Mulligan appreciates the attempt at conversation and begins to look over the camp with a keen eye.
She listens good naturedly to Miron’s tales and responds with a few of her own about using the same kind of methods when working in towns.
Miron makes an educated guess in the less than ideal lighting and does believe that the orcs and wargs all came from the east but in circling around he finds that 4-5 laden wargs left the encampment to the North. He does not recall any wargs loaded down in the quick pitched battle at the camp.
Mulligan finds nothing of value in the temporary camp.
Meanwhile Curunauth and Elfstan notice that their blades are gleaming very bright, especially as they are still nearly 300 yards out. Curunauth, “This is very odd, I don’t think this makes any sense at all.”
When Miron and Elfstan return from their scouting, Thoroncir suggests Swiftwing be sent further ahead to spot the still-unfound wargs. He is reluctant to let them get away and prey on other travelers later, but is mindful that we have a large party of Dwarves with us which will want to press on to Tharbad.
After helping to search them, the Sea-Knight will begin gathering the orc and warg corpses in a big pile. Funeral pyre or burial pit?
Haro replies to Thoroncir, “We would be hard pressed to dig a large enough grave for 70 dead. I fear it must be fire.”
Drogan suggests, “Let them rot, the local animals will take care of this filth.”
Ganil, “We should hang at least some near the road as a clear warning to other goblins to leave the road clear or fear the swift justice of the free people.”
“What say you, Gil-Gandel, Ghan, and my lady?” Sir Thoroncir asks after the Dwarves give their counsel.
He will break all of the orc weapons and cut up any warg tack or leather trappings so that they can’t be salvaged by any other evil folk.
Swiftwing cannot actually scout at night. He is simply following Miron and probably mainly as a ‘Swift’ messenger back. It is Brownie that can actually scout at night. While I am on it. I assume that [COLOR=“Brown”]Brownie sleeps most of the day on Ghân’s horse and the Folca and Swiftwing alternate flying high guard and resting so they are not taxed by daily events. As both are on magical high nutrition diets of Goodberries this should not be a problem.
Anca has been very tired each night. He probably requires a Goodberry and other nutrition to keep going. He is already looking leaner and in much better shape though. Fang is well adjusted to the long trips already. The pace is perfect for him. A slow easy lope. [/COLOR]
How does Thoroncir hope to break the short swords or did you mean the spears? The Dwarves will collect the Short Swords. They are of some small value to them.
The wargs in this group had no tack and Haro suggests, “If we use a bonfire, the studded leather and spears will be consumed well enough, so save your efforts.”
I meant any orc weaponry. The usual method in those days was to lean it against a rock and then step on it, breaking it, IIRC. I thought it was all junky stuff and presumed the Dwarves wouldn’t want it. :: shrugs ::
Could Brownie scout out any remaining wargs, then? Anyone up for a pursuit, or should we just let them go?
Taking the long view, if the Wargs who are left alive are the ones who know it is well to run from Men and Dwarves, that is no bad thing - and let us hope the word gets around.
I suggest Ghân locate some carrion beasts when it is light and pass the word that there is a free feed here. After that, the children of Yavanna will do all that is needful.
Remove any usable gear, and exhibit a selection of broken Orcish weaponry prominently by the road. I do not like to misuse the corpses of even such as these: it is a deed that diminishes the doer. Let the broken weapons serve as warning enough.
Technically the party does not know about the laden wargs yet and btw: Elfstan and Curunauth have wandered off.
Ghân agrees with all of this.
‘Innocent travellers can bite’ is a good message to send out, and breaking the weapons is enough.
If the night passes, Ghân will cast a Locate Animals to find carrion beasts as suggested.
To Curunauth in a hurried, urgent whisper, “Orcs! More are coming! Sheath your blade! We have to warn the others! We must be quick and silent.”
Elfstan makes sure Curunauth gets the idea and then heads for the party at the quickest pace he can maintain while staying silent and keeping to the darkest shadows. He hopes Curunauth does the same and will try not to lose him.
That’s exactly what I had in mind; I wanted someone who was much faster than Miron to be on hand if I needed to quickly alert the party of our findings.
In any event, Miron is fairly sure that he and Mulligan have found all they’re likely to on short notice, and suggests that they head back to the main camp.
Curunauth, “Ah, that would explain it.” He sheaths his sword and begins running back to camp.
In about a minute 4 warg riders are upon you. Curunauth sweeps out his sword and yells, “Wargs and Orcs, to us good people, to us.”
Back at the camp the party hears distant screaming.
The goblins lower long spears and charge down the Elven Smith. He is hit twice for 15points but he kills one goblin on the way by.
What does Elfstan do?
How far are we from the main camp? Have the orcs and wargs spotted Elfstan too?
Ghân will try to recall Brownie, then ask her to find Elfstan and Curunath.
You are about 200 yards away. You are not sure.
So… sacrifice an NPC or not… sigh!
If the wargs have passed and are beyond melee range, Elfstan will try to get a few of his best sling bullets off at them. He will keep trees or other obstructions between him and their spears if he can.
If they are milling about Elfstan and Curunauth or when they close, he will draw his blades and go for any exposed backs (or hamstrings on the wargs) that he can reach.
All the while he’s yelling, "Fear! Fire! Foes! Awake!"
His goal is for he and Curunauth to survive the next minute or two until help comes, not to be a hero and kill them all. He will gladly pass up attacks if it can get him and Curunauth closer to help.
Note: It will be late evening CDT before I will get to post again.
Thoroncir, hearing the screaming and realizing that Curunauth and Elfstan are still somewhere in the woods, picks up his shield, draws his sword and charges through the trees and brush towards the disturbance. He calls over his shoulder, “To arms, my friends, to arms! Follow me! The battle is not yet won!”
At this point I just have to whistle up Cúran and do the “Legolas acrobatic round-the-neck-mount” thing, don’t I? Two hundred yards is not far for an Elf-horse, and the Gardner is making enough noise to be found easily.
The camp is alert. Thoroncir goes racing out in the direction of the screams.
Elfstan fires two +1 bullets at the closest Warg. He hits twice as he ducks around trees and bushes. He did 18 and the warg is still up. This warg and another pursue Elfstan. Curunauth slices down another goblin and hits the warg its is riding. He hits the warg again and drops it. The fourth warg bites him low for another 6 for a total of 21.
Gil-Gandel is on the way and this gives Thoroncir someone to follow. Gilraen, Ghân and Gwaelur follow a bit slower as the Dwarves and Deor remain behind to guard the camp.