The Rise of Tiamat

Torman's voice can be heard whispering in the ears of each of his companions in turn, "Want me to light a fire under 'em?"

Torman D100: 70 (in log)

Gryrig: 28

Kat: 35

“What is going on?”  Azzure thinks, looking to the others with a questioning look.  

D100 : 44 

44

None of the Orcs notice you.

Duncan:

”We need to either back up and rest or push forward,” says Duncan matter-of-factly.  “I’m okay either way, and I have an idea that may minimize the bloodshed if it works,” he adds, repeating his offer from earlier.

Kat slinks forward, staying low and with a boulder between her and the fire. She notices a darker, narrow passage back and to her left, and waits for an opportunity to duck back there.

Azzure follows in the direction of Kat, staying behind a rock.  “What’s the play…” he thinks to himself.

Gryrig moves back towards the group and takes shelter behind a rock. He telepathically communicates with the group

"Alright team, what are we doing? I agree with Duncan. I think we have spent about as much time trying to observe them as we can get away with, so we need to get a wriggle on.

The way I see it, we have three options: Option one, we could retreat and try to make our way back out unnoticed. But I would feel terrible for those Breeding slaves, and it would make for a very bad verse in our song.

Option two, we could go for an all out attack to overpower and defeat them. That sure is the most heroic, although I'm not sure how good an idea it is as we have no idea how many there are.

Option three, we reveal ourselves and march in openly. Trying to parlay nearly worked with those two meatheads in the previous cavern, so there's a chance we could get some info from them. But that's probably still going to end up in bloodshed.

So, what should we do? I vote for option two: let's hit them before they know what's coming"

Duncan:

”Since they seem to have some kind of fight club going in, I was going to challenge their champion to single combat.  If he kills me, the rest of you leave unfortunately empty-handed.  If I win, we leave with the breeding slaves,” offers Duncan.

Quote from Scott_R_Simmons >>

Duncan:

”Since they seem to have some kind of fight club going in, I was going to challenge their champion to single combat.  If he kills me, the rest of you leave unfortunately empty-handed.  If I win, we leave with the breeding slaves,” offers Duncan.

 "Ohh. I love that plan. Very heroic, with the possibility for a tragic twist, and high drama guaranteed. I love it"

Having totally lost his previous train of thought, Grerig absentmindedly starts looking for quill and parchment to scribble down notes. He thinks this part of the story is definitely an improvement over the mud and the slobbering boar, so he's already mentally already editing/deleting that.

(IF we go ahead with this plan, Gryrig will (1) give Bardic Inspiration to Duncan, and (2) use his college of creation feature to summon a horn or trumpet or similar to blow a Fanfare for the entry of Duncan. Gryrig would consider this an very appropriate use of this magical abilities. Who needs combat or utility when you can have Style!)

((Kat can provide Guidance to Duncan before he rolls in.))

Rudy shows up panting "Damn, it was a bi-tch finding you guys" The magpie drops a scroll at Kats feet. "That'll get you to Waterdeep."

Without further word he flies off disappearing with a poof. 

Duncan:

Still ready to back off if someone says they have to rest first, Duncan prepares to go confront the orcs.  Accepting whatever boons his companions may provide, the warrior takes a deep breath, mutters a quick prayer to Tempus, and says to Gyrig, "I am ready.  Make the announcement."

Snapping down the visor on his helm, the doughty warrior looks ahead and prepares to stride boldly to confront the warriors protecting those imprisoning the breeder victims.

(( We all seem to be all over the map at the moment, and Kat is far to the west, so I'm assuming that Torman knows nothing of the avian visitor ))

Torman's eyes widen as the warrior seems hell-bent on confrontation. He stands ready to unleash fiery death upon the longhouse but is willing to wait to see how the warrior's challenge is greeted, if that is what happens.

"Hold a moment, while if check the others are ready," he sends to Duncan then, in one last round of messages, he relays Duncan's intent to the rest of the party.

“Fight them?  With his fists?  A fight club?   What the hell?”  Azzure can’t believe it and the gruff Dragonborn backtracks to sit beside Duncan, saying “You really want to do that?  They may carry you off, rip you to shreds, who knows what.”  As they arrive back, Azzure asks Gryrig and Kat, “What did you see, I stayed behind a rock up there and couldn’t see too much.  How many are we talking about here.”  He turns to Torman, “Do you have anything that can help?  Toss a ball of fire in there as a distraction, grab some of these slaves who are made to fight each other and we make a run for it?”  He sees the scroll, “Or teleport out of here?”

Torman looks around sheepishly, "I can always set fire to the place, but I'd want to get out of here fast afterwards."

Duncan:

”Tempus will guide me if I fight honorably, and I intend to use all resources within my power, not strip down and engage in a fistfight,” responds Duncan to Azzure.

”If they refuse honorable combat, cleansing fire is a good option,” he adds to Torman.