In that case, Gwaelur is probably the best equipt to fight inside the cave. Would Moose and Brin be able to hold the outside by themselves?
With no chance of missing, Deor points out that spellcasters are better equipped than archers to fight inside the cave. Deor volunteers to cast from inside the main passage while the heavy fighters hold the entrance to the cavern and the light fighters hold the mouth of the cave. Though he’s down to cantrips, Cough should be reasonably effective in disturbing the low-level shaman. Deor hopes that Ghan’s Summon Insects will be enough to hold off the orc with the crossbow, and that our fighters will have little difficulty with the Uruk-hai.
Gwaelur is going to make hay inside the cavern!
I still don’t understand who we are holding the outside against?
(In any case, Moose is fine by himself outside.)
It never hurts to be careful and have a back line defense.
I agree. Moose will be sufficient. Maybe Brin, more an archer than a front-line fighter, will stick back with the spellcasters and be ready to shoot or to move to support either the front line or Moose.
My thoughts were to incite a charge by the orcs, and face them in a defensible position where they would not be able to get to the magic-users. This would allow those inside to better navigate unseen. It would fail if the orcs decided to drive deeper and entrench.
If we decide to charge, Gwaelur should take point followed by the other fighters, then the two magic-users, and trailed by me as rear guard. Keeps me out of the good stuff, but protects our mages in case there is a secret passage the orcs can use to double back on us.
Ya know, the swords I wear aren’t for decorative purposes…
Thoroncir will draw his longsword and head directly for the cave entrance, grimly determined to kill the orcs and save the captives.
Well if it means we take a front-line fighter away from an urgent combat designed to support our scouts and save prisoners, then it does hurt.
We’ve travelled for a long time without seeing anyone behind us: our scouts have combed the area for over 20 minutes and killed all the guards; Moose (a tough fighter) can’t get in the cave anyway, so is going to wait outside - surely we don’t take a fighter away from the combat?!
I see your plan.
However we don’t know if we can incite a charge (they may well start killing prisoners and flee); we’re not the defenders (we think we’ve weakened the band sufficiently that we are going to wipe them all out now); only Deor needs looking after* (and he can always nip out where Moose can help him).
*Ghân reckons he could take **at least ** couple of orcs hand-to-hand - assuming they get past his paralysing darts…
The orcs are far more likely to flee than set ambushes (we’re the ones who killed Gash and loads of troops); Ghân can protect Deor; you can be very useful in the combat…
I suspect getting past Moose will not be an enjoyable experience. They will not be able to do more than come at him one at a time and he will bash, butt, bite and boot.
So **Gil-Gandel ** and **Mulligan ** make their way along opposite sides of the chamber. Sticking to the shadows and moving silently. **Gil-Gandel ** may as well be invisible and **Mulligan ** manages the trick only as the orcs are distracted.
On **Gil-Gandel’s ** side is an additional passage, it is dark and he hears nothing. He continues to his opening.
Gil-Gandel finds an orc currently violating a young human in a very awkward spot and 7 more frightened looking woman and girls tied up loosely with ropes. He sees a good clean chance for a surprise point blank attack from behind with his bow and takes his shot. He hits and kills the orc instantly. He quickly scatters the daggers and knives he was carrying and tells the woman to free each other and get ready to escape. He quickly sees to the girl under the orc. She is crying but amazed her nightmare appears open.
Mulligan enters the other passage and finds it runs downwards a good deal, an estimated 200’ of so. He finds a branching with a passage heading left and up and a passage heading sharply right and down quick. Noise is heard from the right hand passage.
A minutes later … At a rush, **Gwaelur ** charges into the ranks with **Theogrim ** quickly getting to his right and **Thoroncir ** to the left.
Next comes **Brin ** at a steady pace looking for a clean and close target.
**Deor ** & **Ghân ** follow.
**Gwaelur ** charges right for the talking orc with the golden necklace of ears {Shagra}. One quick-witted Uruk Hai fires his crossbow at Gwaelur but it bounces off his shield. Gwaelur hits Shagra with Axe and Shield. (23 HP damage).
Thoroncir draws the injured orc leader and hits him in the shoulder (for 11).
Theogrim misses the Uruk-Hai who has on banded armor.
Brin targets one of the orcs in studded leather and hits and drops him another charges him and he drops that one. (It’s good to be a Ranger)
Ghân shoots a smaller orc with a blowgun dart and it drops.
Deor stands ready keeping an eye out for any orcs trying to flank them or a good chance to use a cantrip.
Gil-Gandel hears that the fun has begun. He hurries back to the main cavern, the woman should be able to help each other.
Mulligan heads down the steep passage towards the noise, stopping to listen ahead and behind. The distant sounds of battle can be heard behind and the sounds of quiet conversation below.
**Gwaelur ** pounds Shagra again, dropping him to the ground.
Thoroncir misses the orc leader who hits him in the leg for 6.
Theogrim drops his shield to increase his penetration chance by going two handed (a +2 to hit overall) and delivers a great overhanded blow crushing the huge orc to its foul and filthy knees. (A critical hit for 24 points) the Uruk-Hai appears stunned by the blow and his strike goes wide.
The two large Uruk-Hai charge the front three, the crossbow has dropped it and pulled out another great sword and follows them in.
Four of the orcs and five of the goblins charge with them.
The front Uruk-Hai both strike for Theogrim, and one hits for 9
Two orcs charge Gwaelur with spears and both miss.
Another gets to Thoroncir and hits for another 2
The goblins seem hesitant to engage in this melee.
Another three orcs and three goblins charge towards Brin and the casters. The other 3 goblins run to the passage that Mulligan had taken.
Brin takes a last shot, shooting the closest orc through the heart but sees they will soon be swarmed. He drops the bow and goes to swords.
Ghân waits until the last minutes and shoots a goblin with a blow dart, it actually hits and the goblin stumbles to the ground.
Deor swings his staff in a great arc trying to stave off the orcs and goblins. He misses of course.
Both orcs attack Brin and one goblin each on Ghân and Deor.
Brin is hit once for 5
Ghân and Deor are both missed.
Sorry, I started this post before D_Odds Hopefully it won’t be objected to. More to come, I wanted to give a heads up.
We’re wasting time bickering- let’s go! The orcs will make decisions about those prisoners soon if we don’t get in there!
We’ll compromise- first Gwaelur, best suited to underground combat. Then the human fighters Theogrim and Thoroncir. Then Brin, still tough but not quite as hardy, where he can shoot, back up to help Moose, cover spellcasters, or attack as necessary. Then myself and Ghan, who can stay behind the front line and cast. Let the Elf and the Hobbit slip inside if they can.
EDIT: Totally should have previewed that one.
My thought was to make the cave opening the killing field, but it seems we venture into the cave. Sounds like there won’t be much room to engage once inside, though, so I don’t think it will hurt to have a ranger watching the mages backs.
If we end up fighting in a more open area, we’ll have to reassess, but I like the idea of controlling our flanks.
ETA: Darn work. I take too long from when I begin a post until when I finish a post.
Fight defensively and back up into the mouth of the cavern so I can’t be flanked. Keep giving ground rather than risk a hit- worst case scenario, I back up all the way and Moose will destroy the goblin.There’s no point in trying to outfight this goblin- I can probably do it but Brin will do it better once he’s free.
Don’t even think about casting until I’m clear of the goblins.
'Tis only a scratch.
I’ll continue to defend Ghân and Deor, doing my best not to imitate Boromir protecting Merry and Pippin.
No autopsy, no foul. Work keeps intruding on my posts, so they take a long time to compose, and preview not only is not my friend, but we aren’t even on speaking terms.
Excuse me :dubious:
I know I don’t outwardly appear as hardy, rather more as a skinny, gangly youth, but I’m sure I could more than hold my own here.
Exactly what I think (and the Elf and Hobbit are already inside).
I predict it lasts 3-4 rounds maximum before the orcs are all dead or fleeing. 
I think Gwaelur is doing just fine. He is going to keep charging the biggest baddest Orcs he can find and smashing the crap out of them, Dwarf style.
Hmm, interesting.
What do they say?
Gil-Gandel can hopefully protect the captives. So, I guess I will have to find out what is down there.
Save my life and I’ll take it back 
It’s good to be a Fighter!
This one is moving quick today
Mulligan heads further down and when he gets close enough he hears,
“Pack that all up, we need to ready to go, move it or we’ll plug you unruly lazy lot.”
Mulligan approaches closer and very quietly. He finds the passage levels off and a large cave with two orcs and four men and 12 orc woman and 3 runts. Both orcs have loaded crossbows and they appear to be ordering around the rest to pack everything up.
The quiet orc is also the closest; he sneaks up and backstabs delivering a killing blow. Then as the other orc whips around a man throws a large heavy sack at him. The bolt flies wide and Mulligan and two men attack the orc. Mulligan happily waits for an opportunity to stab the orc while he is being held down. Yells, “grab some weapons and let’s go”, dropping two spare knives that he was carrying for this purpose. “Are there any more orcs down here?”
Back upstairs…
Gwaelur hits the last Uruk-Hai who charged him, hits with the Axe injuring it. Both orcs miss but the Uruk-Hai hits for 8(8 total)
Theogrim swings on a fresh Uruk-Hai and gets him in the left leg. He is of course still up. He also gives the downed leader a swift kick, knocking him over and apparently out. He is hit once for another 5 (14 total)
Thoroncir Sticks the Orc leader in the neck and finishes him off. One orc hits him a scraping blow for 1 (9 total)
Brin swings and hits one orc after a classic feint, dropping it dead. The orc hits him for another 3 (8 total)
Ghân sees no option but to try and tackle the goblin. The attack surprises the goblin who misses.
Deor misses again but the goblin hits for 4 (4 total)
**Gil-Gandel ** eyes up the battle and decides to assist the casters first. He shoots the one on Ghân that is closest and somewhat hampers by the clinging Wose. He hits it through the back and Ghân lets out a shock shriek as the point came right through the goblin’s chest. Ghân lets go quickly and backpedals. **Gil-Gandel ** strides closer and fires a shot into Brin’s hitting again. This orc drops.
Gwaelur Hits the Uruk-Hai twice and it dies. Both Orcs stab him for 7(15 total)
Theogrim misses but only one Uruk-Hai hits him for 8 (22 total) and the injured one drops.
Thoroncir Hits and kills an orc and the other orc misses (9 total)
Brin turns on Deor’s goblin and hits it twice. It is quite suddenly dead. (8 total)
Ghân shoots at one of the stray goblins hover near the main melee. He misses.
Deor rejoices and covers Ghân’s back (4 total)
**Gil-Gandel ** fires at the closest and injured Uruk-Hai on Theogrim. He hits it 2 of 3 times and it drops.
The five goblins break away and race far from the Elf and Brin to the front passage out.
At this point there is an orc on Thoroncir, two on Gwaelur and a Uruk-Hai on Theogrim.
Five goblins trying to get out and three fleeing towards Mulligan.
GwaelurHits an Orc and kills it. The other orc misses.(15 total)
TheogrimHits the Uruk-Hai soundly 12 points. It then takes an arrow from Gil-Gandel but still hits for another 6 (28 total) . This has stopped being fun. Gil hits it once more and the damn orc is still up.
Thoroncir Hits and kills his last orc. (9 total)
**Gil-Gandel ** hits the last Uruk-Hai 2 of 3 times.
Brin charges into the fleeing goblins and kills 3 rapidly. The last two escape down the passage out.
Ghân slowly approaches the front with Deor looking to help Theogrim.
Gwaelur Hits the last orc and kills it. (15 total)
Theogrim Hits the Uruk-Hai to drop it.(28 total) .
**Thoroncir, Gil-Gandel & Brin ** head down the passage that the Goblins and Mulligan ‘took’.
Mulligan heading up hears charging footsteps and “Run you maggots run, or we will all die.”
He waits in the shadows, hoping they head down the other passage or at least don’t notice him and is rewarded when three goblins run past. Mulliganhe leaps out and stabs the last in a clean kidney shot dropping it with a gurgle.
The two goblins do not slow down.
Screams from outside would appear to indicate that Moose is happy. Deor confirms via Folca. Moose has killed both letting them come a short way out of the cave and trampling and bashing both.
At this point 4 screaming woman coming charging out of the passage that Gil-Gandel had come from. They look surprised and happy to see no foes.
We have two fleeing goblins and one more passage off the main chamber.