Gallia Campaign 1

(OOC: Casmir's Stealth: 8 - I'm assuming D&D Beyond is taking care of the disadvantage as it is indicated in the character sheet)

@ Syl, Your owl, Flicker, confirms what Reidoth says, and gives you a great view of the ruins of the city. Most of the orcs are resting or relaxing. There are still a few patrols but they clearly feel safe in their encampment. The dragon appears to be sleeping at the top of the tower, the middle building in the back. There appears to be no treasure hoard, or at the very least, the dragon is not sleeping on top of it. Based on the map you created, your plan could work, but you are also not a tactician, and you've never fought with the people in the party before either. (OOC: it is a 19 for stealth.)

@ Gimble, Reidoth: (to Gimble) "The dragon rests in the only tower." He looks at the illusion map Syl conjured. He points to the middle building in the back. He has a sigh of relief after Syl relays that the dragon is still sleeping. "That building, in the center of the back of the ruins is the tower."

@ Casmir, (OOC: Hopefully so, but I don't think its a big deal in this scenario. Either way your stealth is 18. Somehow the paladin did better at stealth than the rogue.)

@ the party, (OOC: is everyone in agreement on the plan, the party will stealth towards one of the three buildings in the front, try to lure the orcs in small numbers between the buildings and hold out until the knights do a flank attack against the majority of the orc's forces?)

Seems like a good plan on its face to Thok

Casmir's OK with the plan, too. OOooh, so stealthy ;)

Gimble is ready. “Yeah with the dragon being on the back, probably best we stay front and center.”

Stannic is ready, he prefers the front building to the east to make their stand. 

It seems all are agreed,  checking to ensure the knights know the plan, Syl starts leading the group towards the front buildings, getting updates from the owl as she goes:   

@ the party, The party manages to successfully sneak up to the middle building in the front of the ruins of the city. (OOC: it will be visible on the map.) Now that you are closer you can see there are orcs all over the ruins, thankfully most of them are asleep in the center. The few patrols all appear to be sleepy and not paying attention. Which is a relief with so many around the corner and close by. Nearly all the fires in the ruins are now embers and ash make the area safe to move around, and why the orcs are now more widespread through the ruins. You can also see two big siege weapons in front of the bulk of the horde. Reidoth: (to the party) "What luck, with how drowsy they are picking a few of them off should be easy. I would suggest luring them to the building over there." He points to the building to the right of the party which appears to have no patrols. "Or we could try going inside one of the intact buildings and try to funnel them... although we might not be able to escape if they surround the building. Either way I know the spell Entangle which might slow them down a bit. If none of those fit your liking, I could try drawing some away. Kick one in the shins and run away, drawing them away from you all." Reidoth makes a face indicating he clearly wishes to be helpful and not a burden. (OOC: battle map in spoiler below)

(OOC: The circles with a Z are the sleeping orcs. the circles with orcs are orcs who are on patrol, but are clearly not paying attention. the circles with SW are siege weapons. the circle with Dragon is the dragon Reidoth warned the party. The circle with The party is the party. As this is the first point you are placed on the map, you can say where you are and you will get your individual circle on the map. The buildings with doors, white squares in the middle of a wall of a building, are intact and you cannot see what is inside them. The other buildings/ruins can be traveled through but it is difficult terrain. All the plant life on the map is ashes and embers which will not provide cover. The siege weapons are big enough to obscure vision if you are directly in line with it. So say the party gets in front of one, the sleeping orcs on the other side would not be able to see the party. Same is true with the buildings. Let me know if you have any other questions or concerns about the map.)

@ the party, (OOC: What do you do? Since you are stealthing I will assume whatever you do will be slow, quiet and sneaky unless you say otherwise. For instance you do not have to say your character is whispering.)

(OOC: date July 31st. time 12:20 p.m.)

(OOC: quest log is in the spoiler below)

Whispering, Gimble looks to Reidoth. “I like that idea, I agree that getting them over here and picking them off makes sense. Is there a way to magically dismantle those siege weapons before our reinforcements arrive? If it helps I have three flasks of oil and of course a tinderbox. But I think taking a couple out and then those burning weapons may cause the distraction they’re looking for. Thoughts?”

@ Gimble, Reidoth: (to Gimble) "Destroying the siege weapons is a good idea, but it would most likely put the orcs on alert. It would be good if we were distracting some of them, and then the fire starts, forcing them to draw their attention to two separate problems. Destroying those siege weapons magically is beyond my powers. I suppose I could set those siege weapons ablaze and run for it."

Syl says “I can light them aflame from range with magic, maybe.”   She studies the weapons to see if there is an area of rope or greasy pitch that might catch fire quickly.  

Thok shakes his head and holds up a finger. "If you dismantle the siege weapons, you are giving up a weapon. Especially when there's a dragon nearby. We may need those."

"A better bet is to kill the watchmen as quiet as we can. Then let loose on the sleepers. Let the cavalry get in position. Casmir and Sylva as vanguard, drawing their ire. Protecting themselves first and foremost... The rest of us just trying to keep them from getting flanked."

@ Syl, the area is pretty much dirt, ash and embers. If there was something flammable, it has burnt up already.

@ Thok, Reidoth: (to Thok) "I suspect that by the time we do manage to take care of the patrolling orcs, the cavalry will be in position and charging. Unless you adventurers are much better than I figure. Even if that is the case, I'm sure Sir Proudblade would be pleased if you all assisted in killing and driving off the orcs after the flanking maneuver is done."

“Well, I can try to get some of these patrolling orcs with a sleep spell-  we ready?.”  Syl says.  

(Once given the ok) She moves to where she can just see the orcs on patrol, and casts minor illusion to make a burned stump to hide inside. Then, she casts sleep at 2nd level on a concentration of orcs, hoping to get multiple.  35 HP of orcs affected.  

“There is definitely more here than I suspected.  Quite the handful” Stannic nods at Syl’s plan and bends down to pick up three stones from the rubble around them, imbuing them with magic. “We can try to lure some of the others back here to take care of them.”

(@dm can we get some sort of idea about how many orcs we can reasonably take on by ourselves?)

@ Thok, (OOC: The party can take on 9 orcs at once, and it will be challenging. 10 or more would likely be result in the orcs victory. as numbers go down it is easier and easier to take them on. I personally would suggest trying to take on 7 or less at a time.)

@ Syl, (OOC: are you targeting one in particular, or asking me to pick your target(s) that would result in the most effective use?)

@ Stannic, You can easily find three stones.

(Asking you to pick the targets for best use- just because I assume they are moving around a little, but I was looking at the group just north of us between us and the siege weapons) 

"I will go to that orc there" Casmir whispers, pointing to the nearest orc "and whack them with my hammer. That should get their attention"

(OOC: it's the nearest orc to the NW of the party, counting squares from the bottom left corner it's 4 up and 13 to the right, in one of the ruined houses. As soon as Syl is done casting the spell Casmir will move. In case it's needed, Initiative: 9; I think he should be able to reach the orc and hit them so Attack: 23 if it hits - if 23 doesn't hit the orc we're in big trouble - Damage: 9; in the off chance that Casmir is able to attack from stealth and I roll a critical, second attack roll: 15, nah) 

@ Syl, (OOC: you didn't have to move from behind the building to see a patrol. You target the group in the ruins in front of the building the party is hiding behind. the four  that are 20 ft up from the party on the map.) You cast the spell sleep, and it works, unfortunately only one of the orcs falls asleep. The rest are still in a drowsy and apathetic state, seeming to not care that one of them fell asleep.

@ Casmir, You carefully approach the nearby ruins and swing hard with your hammer. (OOC: it does 9 damage) (OOC 2: For the moment we'll hold off on the second attack, we'll keep the attack number, and it is a hit.)

@ the party, (OOC: was anyone else going to do an action before, along side, or after Syl and Casmir's moves? Take a look at the map and let me know if everything looks correct in regards to your chosen action. If you are not going to do anything else, give me an initiative roll, and after all that I will play out the scenario with Casmir and this one Orc. We are not in combat yet but we are about to start. Gimble has give the go to auto pilot the character, so if someone wants him to do something that is reasonable, meaning not putting him in unnecessary danger, feel free to tell me what you would like him to do. And do not forget Reidoth is here as well, if the party wants to have him do something too.)

(OOC: battle map in spoiler below)

 (OOC: Map Legend: The circles with a Z are the sleeping orcs. the circles with orcs are orcs who are on patrol, but are clearly not paying attention. the circles with SW are siege weapons. the circle with Dragon is the dragon Reidoth warned the party. The circle with The party is the party. As this is the first point you are placed on the map, you can say where you are and you will get your individual circle on the map. The buildings with doors, white squares in the middle of a wall of a building, are intact and you cannot see what is inside them. The other buildings/ruins can be traveled through but it is difficult terrain. All the plant life on the map is ashes and embers which will not provide cover. The siege weapons are big enough to obscure vision if you are directly in line with it. So say the party gets in front of one, the sleeping orcs on the other side would not be able to see the party. Same is true with the buildings. Let me know if you have any other questions or concerns about the map. Casmir is the circle with a C in it.)