Ghân looks nervously at the rest of the party.
Surely planning and preparation are not chattering?
Ghân asks “What happened to party unity? Is anyone going to try to capture a senior orc for information? Since I don’t fight very well, am I needed anymore?”
Brin, “I like planning but I also like surprise. Couldn’t we hit them first and then demand their surrender?”
Gilraen, “Thoroncir, please wait. … Ghân, please excuse the warriors. It is their way to plow ahead and Hraedsig in particular harbors a hatred for orcs. I know we still need your help and especially your cool head. … If we captured a large number couldn’t we seal them in a room for a while and then get them out later? I am not sure what room would work.”
Gilraen, would it be possible to do that without appearing to be traitors if we were caught? I dislike that form of deception for the benefit of Orcs and goblins.
Ghan is right, we need a plan, and we don’t have a good one yet.
May I ask why we are planning on taking prisoners and escorting them out of the caves at all?
Why not simply go after the Chief with an eye towards live capture and try our best to keep other casualties on the goblin side to a minimum? Once we have taken out the Chief the war is over is it not? Surely that would save the most lives with the least chance of a logistical nightmare and failure on our own part.
Gilraen replies, "I am confused by how taking and locking up prisoners would be viewed as traitorous. As to the chief part he is just the local goblin leader and not a big boss. He must report to the Goblin King and is probably far less important than that King’s chief lieutenants.”
Thoroncir of course stops when so bidden by the fair Gilraen, and calls back Hraedsig. As he’s said before, he favors capturing the orc-chief and any of its subordinates if possible. The party could establish a makeshift temporary jail in any of the one-doored chambers, if necessary (such as rooms 5, 27, 28, 32, or 38), after our foes surrender.
Hraedsig does not appear to hear Thoroncir calling him back, as he continues toward the orcs.
Then you do not know the Dwarves well, m’lady. But that aside I do not see how keeping prisoners is a reasonable proposition.
Even so, this argument would seem to be moot and it would appear that we no longer have time to plan as Hraedsig seems to be bent on going into the fray with or without our help. I had best be sure he doesn’t get himself lost or killed or both.
Though Deor doesn’t like to act without consensus, he’ll move cautiously in behind Gwaelur, just in case the Paladin and Dwarf can’t handle the goblins in the room ahead. Consensus or no, he’ll make sure his friends aren’t hurt.
And Hreadsig’s off, Well that’s torn it and he probably won’t be killed by this lot either.
I wonder if he will give them the option to surrender at all or just pile in?
Time to go lend a hand I guess.
Don’t worry Ghan, your skills will definitely be required before this day is over.
:dubious:
Hraedsig is in for a very long lecture once the current emergency has been dealt with. For now, assume the usual formation and set off after him - quickly but in good order.
Bitur will leave with Gwaelur to support Hraesdig.
Thoroncir grins, glad for once not to be the impetuous one in the party, draws his longsword and pounds down the passage in support of Hraedsig.
The party charges through room 18 (a rough cave) to the door that leads to the passage that has the secret door into room 17.
Hraesdig, Bitur, Gwaelur, Deor, Thoroncir, Brin lead with Gil-Gandel, Mulligan, Elfstan and Gilraen coming up next. Glee comes last. He closes the secret door in room 2 at least.
As Hraesdig gets the door open, the party manages to catch up to him. He moves into the room with all the stealth of a raging dragon bearing down on a hapless village. At a quick glance there are over a dozen goblins in the room and probably more. Bitur and Gwaelur both bark out at the same time, “Hold and form up into ranks.” Brin goes to the side and lets fly an arrow. He kills the closest goblin.
The four form up into shield wall and Gilraen yells out, “Drop your weapons and you will be spared.”
The goblins charge the shield wall. One throws a spear at Gilraen. Thoroncir leaps into the way and stops it with his right arm. He is critically hit for 12 damage.
Gil-Gandel’s first arrow finds this foe and injures him.
Elfstan sneaks around the closest rock pillar and Mulligan follows.
Gwaelur chops into a goblin and Bitur takes down another. Hraedsig surges slightly ahead and swiftly kills one but two charge him with pig pokers. He blocks the one but the other strikes hard pushing Hraedsig but not puncturing his Dwarven Banded armor. He is off balanced though.
Brin’s second arrow drops another goblin closing in on the left flank. Gil-Gandel finishes off the one that injured Thoroncir.
Ghân and Gilraen rush to aid Thoroncir and Deor sees another 8 goblins charging out of the smithy doors. He tosses one of his remaining sleep spells on them and gets all 8.
Ghân and Thoroncir withdraw the spear and Gilraen swiftly casts a cure light for 14 or full.
Elfstan and Mulligan fire 4 +3 sling bullets between them. Four goblins drop as all find marks.
Gwaelur and Bitur eliminate the goblins on Hraesdig as Bitur growls, “Stand firm and form up!” Hraesdig steadies himself and prepares for the next goblin.
Brin and Gil-Gandel drop 3 more between them. There are only 3 left in the room.
Hraesdig charges one and Thoroncir another. Spears miss both. Brin drops the third goblin. So Bitur follows Hraesdig as Gwaelur Thoroncir. Hraesdig hits his with bastard and shield and it drops and Thoroncir runs his through.
The doors of the Smithy and Armoury are open. There are 8 sleeping by the smithy.
Thoroncir rubs his arm, winces a little and says quietly to Gilraen, “Truly, I do not mind such injuries overmuch if it means you are left unharmed, my lady. And of course I owe you my thanks once more, for your healing touch is as effective as it is welcome.”
Are any of the eight sleeping goblins noteworthy by size, equipment or insignia? If not, I don’t know what would be gained by interrogating them.
I do not believe we are urgently in need of information at the moment, and under the circumstances I favour sending them mercifully on their way* - but we have a little time to discuss this, since Deor’s spell will hold them in sleep for nearly half an hour.
I think we’ve learned all we can from the one we’ve already interrogated. Well fought, all; let’s press on.
The 8 Goblins are swiftly and painlessly dispatched in their sleep.
The party is heading out the north passage for room 24 and then the local sub-chief’s (room 42). Is this correct?
**Glee **and appleciders could I get updates on remaining spells soon.
Sounds right to me.
“Mulligan, didn’t you say there were orcs in that room (that we just cleared)?”
If there were you probably would chase after them.
No Hreadsig, there are no Orcs in this area at all.
In the slightest.
What so ever.
At all.
None!
Now, if you will excuse me, I am going to check out the path to the sub-chief’s quarters. Why don’t you lot check out the smithy and armoury while I am gone.
Elfstan, shall we?
Elfstan replies to Mulligan, “Surely.”
The two Hobbits head off to room 24. The door to the room is heavy oak and steel banded and closed with a large but sturdy iron key hole. It will be extremely easy for our dexterous locksmiths to pick. The door appears free of traps and peering through the key hole Mulligan sees the room is lit by torchlight. She sees and hears no activity in the room. Elfstan brings back the report.
The smithy is warm and at least one of the four stations is going. Each alcove is has a forge and anvil setup. Who leads this investigation?