As I am not doing much else, I have no problems helping out. It might take a little more to distract Renee from leading all the rangers around, not to mention Thoroncir. 
Renee will be doing nothing but doctoring the wounded, human and orcs. So any study of the Shaman must wait or be done without her.
I’m going to assume that Ghân is concentrating on the injured horses and uses a [COLOR=Blue]cure light and [/COLOR] berries on Moose. Ghân gets Renee’s help with the cure light and Moose is healed without use of berries.
Many [COLOR=RoyalBlue]Berries will be needed, up to 120 could be used. I think that number was available but I will await verification from Ghân. [/COLOR]
Ghân thanks everyone for trusting him and for fighting so bravely.
He has well over 120 goodberries and will use them all.
Once as much healing as possible is done, can Ghân try to recover his spells?
It takes nearly an hour to complete helping all the wounded. The Berries helped this much. The allies lost but one brave rider and one horse and 4 of the Green Orcs.
Caramir, “This was a great victory. Calahad, man of Gondor and Pelofer, swift horse of the cavalry should both be remembered with pride in service to King and Kingdom.” He bows his head facing the West. “The graves are dug and we should be ready to escort the rest of the Orcs out to the East. My Rangers and the members of Gil-Gandel’s party that are willing will return with the orcs and the Cavalry should remain ready for the second ambush. What say thee men, are we ready?”
(No time to rest)
What did you want to do about the Shaman?
Gwaelur was born ready.
I think Deor requested my assistance in picking the dead Shaman’s pockets for valuables.
If that’s done, then ready.
Ghân has no 1st level spells left, so cannot do Detect Magic just yet.
(The party should (as Mulligan has stated) collect the Shaman’s belonginigs, plus the Uruk-Hai and Hunter-Killer’s stuff.)
Ghân has three 2nd level spells available, so expects to use a Barkskin on himself and a couple of Cure Light Wounds.
He has 234 Goodberries left.
By this time I have surely had time to tour the battlefield and recover any arrows that I possibly can, my good horse has had his breather and any water that is to be had, and I strongly approve setting out promptly. Surely the Valar’s favour has rested on us today.
We certainly can keep going, and I think it would be wise to do so- there’s no sense in allowing the orcs a chance to fortify. However, I’ve expended my offensive spells for the day, leaving me with just Invisibility and cantrips. I could come along, but I might be better off topside, so that no one need defend me in a fight. I could stay with Moose; with Folca’s help, we could do a serviceable job picking off anyone who leaves the caverns.
I know Deor can speak to Moose in Westron, and I’m sure I can ride him in general, but how would that work in a fight? Could Deor just focus on holding on, not riding or fighting, and stand a good chance of just hanging on?
Caramir has no plans of going in, just near the orc exit. The idea is to provide some extra escort for the orcs until they are clear of the mountain and out where the cavalry can operate so well. As to riding Moose that is up to Moose. If he chooses to let you ride, you will most likely stay on him except in battle. Then even Gil-Gandel or Theogrim might have a problem.
If Deor is wary, stay back with the cavalry on his own horse. You can convert that last 2nd into a final Sleep Spell of course.
Gil-Gandel broke/lost 2 arrows.
Brin lost 2 arrows.
As to the Shaman, his headress may be special. But his stuff may need to await a detect magic.
Thoroncir is eager to press on. After some water and a bite to eat, shared with Renee if she wishes, he’ll put his helmet back on and await Gil-Gandel’s orders.
I think you and Folca are fine as a combined guard outside the caverns.
I wouldn’t suggest riding Moose in this case though - he will charge into battle, and you don’t want to be sitting on his back whilst he fights several orcs! :eek:
Ghân is practically out of spells too, so why don’t Deor, Ghân, Moose, Fang, Brownie and Folca stay outside with all the orc potential treasure?
DM, can Ghân use a 2nd level spell slot to cast [COLOR=Blue]Detect Magic? (He’s got two spare.)
Then we could share some treasure with the helpful orcs before they march off.[/COLOR]
I would suggest that Renee joins Deor and Ghan in being some distance from the upcoming sortie. I have a feeling their skills will be useful after the skirmish is finished, but possibly not so during it.
Would the party prefer to stay with the cavalry then or split up? I’m thinking in addition to the spell casters the lancers may wish to remain behind. This leaves Brin, Gil-Gandel, Mulligan and Gwaelur going with the Rangers. In this case Moose would stay with Ghân & the cavalry. I imagine Folca will keep an eye on what is happening near the caverns.
Ghân can convert a 2nd to 1st and can cast Detect Magic if he has in memorized.
(I could probably move this along quicker if everyone stays on the plains, I will even use my awesome DM skills to help this along.)
I will be gone until Monday.
However, feel free to have Mulligan follow around and be generally helpful/sneaky as appropriate.
Ghân does have Detect Magic memorised and will burn a 2nd level spell to see what is magic amongst the orc’s equipent.
I think it makes a lot of sense to have the lancers stay on the plains with the casters.
I’m surprised that Theogrim and Thoroncir wouldn’t be as useful underground, but I’m strongly in favor of this moving along, so do as you will. Deor will stay above ground.
Just to clarify, no one but the orcs are going underground. Those going are just escorting the orcs back to the caverns and then escorting them down out of the mountains, hopefully luring more orcs and maybe the Shaman out of the lairs.
In the meantime, the spell casters can try napping and hope for the best.
At this point it will be just the Rangers of Ithilien doing the escort duty and the rest of you will be waiting with the rest of the riders.
Riglo shows up right before the orcs set out and say he will go ahead and scout the path back. Caramir defers to him in this.
Folca is circling high overhead as the orcs head back. The Rangers hide themselves as much as possible in journeying with them. Several are disguised as Uruk-Hai.
Ghân drifts off to sleep quickly. Deor has trouble drifting off. Renee is still worrying over the wounded and seems a little wound up. Thoroncir sits her down and ensures she eats a little and drinks a bit. Finally Gil-Gandel strums an Elven lullaby. Renee and Deor drift off.
The battle is largely erased, bodies are buried and goods pulled to some cover of scrub, ready for handling and checking later. The wind storm has died down. Captain Helton suggests, “The windstorm, whether natural or not, probably did more to help us than hinder. If the Shaman sent it, it also kept his eyes from the sky I would think.” He talks to the party for a bit, he asks Thoroncir what a Mariner is doing out here. He comments with amazement on the Wose bring this plan together. He also comments on how young the Wizard and Healer are. Then he spends nearly 40 minutes discussing horses mainly with Theogrim as the others find excuses to wander off from a rather boring conversation. Gwaelur is the bluntest, commenting on cleaning his armor and weapons being a better use of his time.
When Deor awakes at 2:45pm, he reports the orcs number roughly 120 are on their way back. He begins to study. Folca sees several hundred more orcs coming downhill swiftly to try and cut of the orcs in green.
One Ranger returns near 3pm. He reports the orcs are on the way and no more than an hour out. The spell casters will be back to full and studied. Any changes in spells please let me know. The riders get ready.
Captain Helton has his men in 10 groups of 6 again and he joins Thoroncir, Theogrim, Gil-Gandel & Moose as an eleventh.
The rest of the party have a small dugout position where the orcs are suppose to go by. This was prepared by the cavalry and Gwaelur.
Ghân would like to know if:
- the mists of Obscurement would appear natural at this moment
- there are any trees around, which would cover the use of Tree
There are few trees. Obscurement should appear natural enough to all save the Shaman. He might be suspicious. Keep in mind that it has been very windy today, for one stretch too windy for a Hawk to fly.