Ink, eyes the hand crossbow, then looks up and replies, "Well met! Another sword and quiver are always welcome - and the giants are coming with orcs riding flightless birds. You'll have plenty of targets to get the drop on."

//so much always gets posted while I'm sleeping lol//

Rip has a 120 foot range on fire bolt, he will start tossing them at the first target that gets in range

24 for 7

Quote from Gimpster >>

//so much always gets posted while I'm sleeping lol//

 

Rip has a 120 foot range on fire bolt, he will start tossing them at the first target that gets in range

24 for 7

//ill say yes//

As you rally to the hillstop smithy (Uldinath Arms), Lord Protector Darathra can be seen riding up on a powerful horse. "I have my two guards securing the villagers—thank you for your advance warning. I'm here to help," she says grimly. She is equipped with a greatsword and has a heavy crossbow in hand. "Unfortunately, I've sent the Twelve to deal with orc raids further afield earlier this morning. 

Looking across the expanse, less than a mile out now, you see several small shapes moving quickly ahead of the giants—the riding orcs, presumably—as well as over a dozen other figures of varying size, approaching a ways behind these riding warriors. Towering over these smaller figures are the unmistakable forms of two fire giants.

Trailing behind Darathra is a lanky human male equipped with a rapier. "I'm here to fight, Lord Protector!" says the man. 

"Thank you, Othovir!" says Darathra. "We haven't much time. Everyone, this is Othovir, our harness-maker."

// In addition to your character, each of you has received a special nonplayer character with ties to Triboar (check your PM inbox). Take a moment to review your NPC’s personality traits and statistics. One of your goals (as a player) in this part of the adventure is to keep your special NPC alive. For each of these NPCs that survives, your party will receive a special quest that yields a reward upon its successful completion. The details of these special quests won’t be revealed until the end of this part of the adventure. //

//Now THAT will make things interesting...//

// nice :) //

Flint eyes the lanky man and says "right then. Othomir is it? Find ye some cover right here. Battles move lad, keep ye wits about ye an pay attention, ain't got time ta say things twice."

Othomir finds cover behind a lumber pile and cats mage armor. 

The orcs appear to be cutting up the hill to ride south down the long road, straight into town, and will be upon you in less than a minute—what do you do?

//Urgala gets into position so she can see the orcs, gets her short bow ready and kneels so she has half cover beside a cart that she has turned over.//

// Ink would have started shooting at them with his bow and arrow from from 600' out (even at a disadvantage) then maybe changing strategy once they were about 60' - 90' away (also depends on the lay of the land). //

// Narth would seek for a place to seek cover and hide until the orcs are within 30' so that he can get a shot off with his hand cross bow before entering melee //

Ink shouts, "Don't suppose anyone can drop a fireball on the middle of that horde coming right at us, eh?  Oh, and Rip - fire don't work against fire giants!"

"And remember! Orcs can rush up faster than expected! //(referring to the ability we unfortunately discovered in NIghtstone allowing them to dash)//

// DM Question - so we're by T17 / T18 on the map you sent us earlier? Or are the two groups in different parts? Not sure where Urlaga maneuvered us to. //

Darathrea would have started shooting with her Heavy Crossbow at the Orc riders when they were 400 feet away, even at disadvantage, hoping to hit something, and once they are within 40 feet will take off with her Warhorse.

Angel, unable to do anything at long range, would have gotten behind cover and said a quick prayer to Lathander. But, will burst out when the Orcs are within 40 feet and have taken off with his Quarterstaff prepared to meet them in melee. 

// The idea was that you would have followed her to the smithy of the hill (T17)—but ultimately where you are is up to you. //

Rip will do the same as Angel but in reverse, with me shooting firebolt at the orcs as soon as they are in 120' with Foehammer ready to jump out and ax some fools when they get close

"I'm not aiming at the giants Ink!"

// are the orcs coming in faster than the giants? //

The axe beak riding orcs are the first wave. There are about half a dozen of these riders, as far as you can tell.

// They move 100 feet per round, and close in from 999 feet (starting) to 99 feet. So those of you who are only firing ranged weapons or casting long-range spells can make the appropriate amount of attacks for each of those rounds, as per your weapon's range (remember that shooting at long range gives you Disadvantage). //

The giants and the rest of their entourage are still a  ways out past the orcs, but will be upon you in a matter of minutes.

// oh and please let me know if you're targeting the axe beaks or the riders. //

Urgala is going to take 2 attacks against the first orc she sees.

Attack: 14 Damage: 6
Attack: 12 Damage: 7

Othovir will get one shot with fire bolt at 120'. Attack: 6 damage: 8 aiming at a mount