That’s how I count it. Not much else to say except a quick question: I must sleep and study spellbooks to change the spells loaded and must get a night’s sleep to reload the same spells as before, right?
“You called.” You’re not the only one with good hearing, you know and seeing as we are both circling round, it should not be hard to get across to you.
So, what’s this plan for fun then. 
muttering in an undertone as stupid Orcs blunder by in the dark
We both had the same idea in mind, it seems. Suppose we watch each other’s backs. Want a hand into this tree? if there is one
Later on, it might be amusing if you can get some of them to chase you. I have a cunning plan. 
Sounds like a good idea.
If there is a tree, give me a hand. I don’t have my rope on me, but I do have a nice length of thin twine. Would that be of any use
I might be able to get some of them to follow me, although I may have to make a real nuisance of myself to do that. 
I have two hundred feet of elven rope - the good stuff. Thinking in terms of tying it between two trees just above hobbit head height, and if you can get half a dozen orcs to chase you in the right direction…
But we’ll stick to a volley of missile fire for openers.
Great minds think alike.
You take the 3 on the left, I’ll take the 3 on the right
Anyone left becomes a pain in the neck.
I trust I’m doing OK looking after Deor. 
Anytime you can post orders is a relief (it’s a big responsibility looking after another player’s character…).
I am waiting for a few more to check in and then we will play out the second half of the battle.
From the map I sent, you will see that there is no shortage of trees and most have large canopies.
I’m at more of a disadvantage in the darkness, so bow-play is out of the question. As we didn’t camp until after dark, I haven’t had a chance to get a good lay of the land. So, I’ll indicate to one of the knights and the Wose that I’m flanking (so people know where I am) in the other direction of the Elf and the Hobbit. I’ll have to settle for targets of opportunity, fading in and out of the trees as I do so.
This is why I play mages conservatively regarding spells. Especially at the early levels, I’m much more talk than action. I would much rather go to sleep a few spells still available than cast it on the first group of goblins or orcs I encounter. Just a different playstyle.
Thoroncir proceeds as earlier described.
I eagerly await the outcome of the battle. This is fun!
As you say, it’s just a different style.
Now Deor used an Invisibility and a Sleep in our first combat to take out 5 orcs (the whole rearguard). This allowed the party fighters to charge in, taking the remaining orcs by surprise - and also provided orc prisoners for interrogation.
Deor knew precisely what he could do in the first combat - also there was no guarantee we would be attacked again before he could reload. (And his spells are much harder to target at night…)
If Deor had held back his spells for the first combat (causing us to take more damage, and perhaps even to get a hostage killed) and then the night had passed peacefully, I think he would be **very unpopular ** with the party.
Yup!
When the time’s right I’ll drop out of the tree and, while Mulligan goes in search of orcs, I’ll pass one end of the rope round the trunk, take both ends over to another tree maybe ten yards away, take a turn around the second trunk and keep the rope taut about orc-neck-high. No need to fuss around tying knots, passing a loop right the way round the tree will give me enough purchase to hold the rope against a considerable strain, and when I let go it’ll fall harmlessly to the ground. I’ll pick out a suitable spot and point it out to Mulligan while we snipe away, and we’ll execute the plan when I say “Rope trick!”. Then all he has to do is get their attention with, say, a sudden back-stab, and he can lead a bunch of them into the trap.
…And in case it doesn’t all go as planned, we execute Plan B, which is to run like buggery.
Yes - there are plus points both ways, but we got through our first fight with all missions accomplished, no-one hurt, not even low on ammunition. That’ll do for now.
Hehe, yeah, I often was if I never cast. I made up for it when I did pull out the firepower. Once I got to 5th+, I could be a little freer with my casting. It’s always a trade-off.
Armor is being put on and Ghân uses (precast) Goodberries to cure both Gwaelur (3hp) and Theogrim (2hp).
The orcs comes charging in within 3 minutes. The front 20 are in studded leather and have scimitars and shields. There are two more groups of five in light leather with 3 per group having short bows & spears and 2 per having heavy crossbows & scimitars.
There was not enough time to complete armoring and two knights have only their breast plates on. There was no time to set up a trip rope, though a good idea for future use.
….………………xxxxx…….……….…….Ghân Deor Merry……………………………xxxxx………………Moose
Orc Orc………………………………………xxxxxxxxxxx………………………………………………Orc.
Knight1 Kn3 Kn4 Knight2 Gimli… Theogrim Gwaelur Thoroncir Ornan
Orc Orc Orc Orc Orc Orc O O O…Orc Orc Orc Orc…Orc Orc…Orc Orc
Torch…. Torch…. Torch…. Torch…. Torch…. Torch
Gil-Gandel…50yards…Xbow Bow Bow Bow Xbow……………. Xbow Bow Bow Bow Xbow…40 yards…Mulligan
Brin……………………………………………………Caramir
In the opening minute of melee: first round dead in grey and injured in red. Bold indicates the only orc to survive two rounds.
Mulligan and Gil-Gandel each flank the archers to opposite sides. The Rangers work their way around to the rear.
As the Orcs come in Moose charges over the Orc trying to flank around the fighters and chargers towards the bowyers.
Merry cantors back a few steps and shoots the Orcs flanking the other side, he drops one and injures the second. Then misses with his third arrow.
Deor stays ready with his staff and looks for a opportune moment to cast sleep.
Ghân casts Faerie Fire on the Orcs fighting Theogrim to Ornan. Giving them bonuses to hit and disturbing the Orcs. He keeps his blowgun handy.
Gil-Gandel fires off 3 shots dropping the closest orc with a crossbow and the next bowyer. His second arrow missed.
Mulligan hits and drops the crossbowyer nearest him and does a quick duck and fade.
The first 3 arrows from the left orcs and a bolt fly towards Knight 3, tall and barely armored, he is hit by an arrow and a bolt. He takes 10 points.
The first 3 arrows from the right orcs and a bolt fly towards Theogrim, tall and barely armored, he is hit by an arrow and a bolt. He takes 10 points.
Knights 1-4 collective hit 3 times and drop two orcs, injuring one. The armored Knights partially protecting the less armored. The four orcs hit twice, both on Knight 3. He takes 12 points of damage and drops.
Gimli smiles broadly and lays into the three orcs attacking him. He cleaves one through the shoulder, removing its weapon arm and bashes one with his shield hard enough to kill it. The remaining Orc fails to hit Gimli and he chops it down and moves to help the knights.
Theogrim, wishing it was lance work, does hit with his sword dropping one of his foes, he fends of the scimitar with his shield.
Gwaelur fired one bolt as they charged and missed, he then hits with his shield and misses with his axe. One more orc dead. The remaining orc hits for 4hp damamge.
Thoroncir hits with his Long Sword dropping the orc quickly. The remaining orc misses.
Ornan swings and misses, both Orcs hit him. He takes 9hp.
The last two left archers swing to fire at where they think Gil-Gandel is and miss, hitting branches.
The three right archers fire are Moose, two hit for 9 points of damage.
Brin gets off a quick attack from the rear at the end of the round, slaying the Bowyer to the right after hitting with both weapons for massive damage.
Caramir easily dispatches his left bowyer and engages the Xbow user, who drops his and pulls his scimitar. The other Xbow runs forward and pulls out his Scimitar.
Moose impacts the bowyer to the right that shot him and the orc dies instantly.
In the next minute:
**Brin ** pursues the Xbower and slices him down fast. Long hit, short missed.
**Caramir ** kills the Xbower he had.
**Mulligan ** hits and drops the last Bowyer on the right and sneaks up behind the orcs fighting Ornan for next round.
Gil-Gandel hits the archer trying to hit him and then targets over to the melee.
The back is cleared.
**Merry ** rides down the last flanking orc and puts his sword into his face, the orc gets a weak blow against the Pony for 1HP.
**Gimli ** kills the orc on Knight 2 and pushes for the next. Knight 1 is beset by a pair and Gimli orders Knight 2 to help. Gimli drops the injured orc after it misses him. Knight 1 misses and Knight 4 & 2 both hit the right side orc, dropping it.
**Theogrim ** misses his Orc, who also misses.
**Gwaelur ** hits with the Axe & Shield dropping his remaining foe.
**Thoroncir ** hits again, dropping another.
**Ornan ** misses again and is hit once. He takes another 4 for 13 total.
**Deor ** uses his last spell to Magic Missile the Orc on Theogrim for 7 points, dropping it.
**Ghân ** rushes to the fallen Knight, seeing little need for him on offense.
**Gil-Gandel ** shoot the last orc on the left twice in the back. It is quite dead.
At the very end of the round Moose completes his charge into the right most orc and knocks him on top of his first victim.
Only one orc remains standing.
3rd and final round, **Mulligan ** misses with a backstab but **Ornan ** finally hits, **Thoroncir ** misses and **Gwaelur ** finishes off the injured orc.
Gimli and the Knights ensure the Orcs are dead.
Ghân what do you do for the fallen knight?
Good fight everyone. We must see to our fallen comrade. Anyone else not fully armored should take the opportunity to get in armor. I have a feeling this isn’t over.
Aye, the only thing worse than fighting on foot in the dark is fighting on foot in the dark, unarmored. I’ll finish getting in my armor in case there’s more work to be done tonight.
Merry, “Deor, while we go on high alert, you might want to get right back to sleep. It has been mentioned that you need sleep to restore your powers. Forgive me if I am wrong. Now I am going back on patrol, these orcs came from the North, I suspect they circled around us. Gil-Gandel, if you are willing you might want to do the same.”
Gimli, “We might as well go to a hot camp. They know where we are. We have to deal with these bodies too.”
Ornan, "Owww! Damn the luck, I can’t even put my armor on until I am bandaged and maybe stitched.
Caramir, “Ghân, let me know who I should attend to, I am a fair healer.”
Moose walks up to Ghân and says in low Moose, “When chance, arrows in me.”
The 3 Knights, finish armoring, their sergeant says, “That’s it, we are on alert the rest of the knight. Wose, if you can do anything with your powers to help our fellow, we will be in your debt.” Once armored they begin systematically examining the orcs and stripping them.
Gwaelur will help keep watch so as to stay on the lookout for incoming orcs. If anyone finds any axes, I could always use another one (I am something of a collector.) We can also use my ponies to load up any extra supplies we might find.
Thanks, What Exit! Pretty exciting.
Thoroncir will see that the Prince and Ghan are all right, ensure that the wounded are being tended to, and then fully put on his armor. He’ll be ready to move out when needed.
Just caught this. Heh.