I don’t know. I would think that torture, even mental torture, would be a bit more…I guess tortuous.
We’re not equipped to deal with prisoners. These mountains are teaming with orcs and worse, and I’d rather not have an overly brave runner think to notify others to our position. It is dirty work, but I see no viable option.
“I am sorry, Renee, but we are well into hostile country and ill-provisioned to care for prisoners, though it wrings my heart to withhold mercy even from such as these. As for interrogation: no. I will neither hold out a false hope of life or liberty, nor threaten with ill-treatment those we do not mean to spare. Let it be done speedily and painlessly, and let him who is paralysed be first, that he not suffer the needless anguish of seeing his fellows put to death and know himself next to be so treated.”
Thoroncir murmurs, “Perhaps you had better turn away, my lady,” draws his longsword and does Gil-Gandel’s grim but necessary bidding.
Ghân looks puzzled.
“Wake up one orc, tell him he will die unless he tells us everything, then kill the other orcs one by one right in front of him. A matter of minutes.
I call that torture.
And it’s against everything I believe in.”
DM, I am using Goodberries on all injured Fighters that can take them.
Gentelmen, now is not the time for a discussion of ethics. We have already decided that the orcs will be slain without waking them or questioning them, a decision which both of you found to be reasonable. Now is the time to move. Discuss your ethical diffenences when we reach a safe campsite.
Orcs are escaping as we speak. I would like to follow them before they can raise reenforcements of their own. Who will go with me, I will need the help of a tracker at least.
I will - I am the swiftest afoot, can see best in the dark, and am more likely to catch our enemies unawares than be so caught. If Ghân can run well, we should take him and Fang, who should be able to wind fleeing and frightened orcs well enough; and you are right that we should be about this quickly. I do not know if Brin can be of help in the failing light.
The rest of you, pull out. Take what appears valuable and can be safely secured within the quarter hour, no longer. Retire to our camp site, make no fire for now, post guards and keep silent. We will be glad of Missy’s eyes and Brownie’s, I think.
Thoroncir nods, wipes his blade clean and completes his search of the dead orcs. He will accompany the party out of the caves and otherwise do as Gil-Gandel suggests.
Gil-Gandel, Be careful which exit you leave from, don’t forget that some of them are still guarded. I should be able to get everyone back to the camp in the dark, if Brin can give me directions.
Good luck catching them.
To the rest: I will keep watch if you want to search the bodies, my eyes and ears should detect if something or someone comes. But let us not tarry overlong, I have a feeling we will be back tomorrow.
Renee, “Deor said the 3 orcs escaped from the main entrance where the largest spider is. Gil-gandel you should take others with you to fight off the spider.”
Between Gwaelur, Ghân and myself, I certainly hope we can deal with a spider.
In fact, when we get as far as the spider’s lair, I’ll announce loudly: “There will be no more free meals from the Orcs, and from us nothing but steel; but I am not hunting spiders today. Leave us alone and you may live long for all I care.”
I do hope the Gil-Gandel realises that the large spider is 2-3 times the size of the other spider we killed.
Yeah, he should be ok, he’s clever that Elf. 
So the three intrepid adventurers take after the orcs via the spider.
Meanwhile the rest of the party will follow Brin after a fast sweep of the place to the campsite. Leaving the temple for another day. Will the signal fire be lit?
Gil-Gandel and Gwaelur have missiles ready. After Gil-Gandel’s little speech, nothing is heard. Ghân & Fang hang back a bit.
Ghân and Fang are alert for the Monster Spider’s response.
If nothing happens, Ghân will cast Locate Animals to find where the monster is lurking.
DM, I make it that Ghân has used 5 [COLOR=Blue]Goodberries on Gwaelur, 8 on Theogrim and 4 on Gil-Gandel.[/COLOR]
I’d suggest not. I think we can defend ourselves overnight, if necessary, and still finish our work in the orc-caves without help from the Gondor cavalry detachment.
DM, I make it that Ghân has used 5 [COLOR=Blue]Goodberries on Gwaelur, 8 on Theogrim and 4 on Gil-Gandel.[/COLOR]
Thank you
Ghân casts Locate Animals and determine there are hundreds of spiders in the small chamber beyond. However only one is huge.
Sorry, does this mean the rest are baby Monster Spiders?
Agreed, but keep the kindling fresh and the flint handy.
Ghân finds the spell seems to indicate 100s of spiders and 1 huge.
That was my question. Gwaelur has no fear of spiders of any size (though the dog continues to make him nervous) but isn’t sure that heading into a den of babies with their mother is a great idea.
He keeps his fears to himself as he does not want to look weak or cowardly in front of the elf that has inexplicably been placed as the leader of this group, and who even more inexplicably offered to help Gwaelur in his quest. He must remember to thank the elf later.
Ghân needs to know whether telling the Mother Spider that there’s plenty of orcs to feed her young on, provided she lets us pass freely, is a sensible thing.
Is our mission to eradicate just Orcs, or do these particular Monster Spiders also need destroying?