If you want it, consider it done.
I dunno- aren’t orcs mostly nocturnal? I’d expect them to be active more often at night, so there might be fewer orcs in the cave if Mulligan explores at night. Then again, the ones who are there are more likely to be awake. It may be a toss-up, come to think of it.
I’ll send a note off to the Gondorian cavalry straightaway, as soon as we’re above ground.
Never mind. Thought I’d read to the end of the thread. Real post follows shortly.
Begin writing the message to the reinforcements, with Brin to provide the best instructions he can for how to follow our trail. I certainly vote for a continuation of our scouting mission, but before we do, and while the sun is high, we should indeed find ourselves a site for a cold camp.
As to taking on a hundred orcs… Deor could put a fifth of them to sleep, Ghân could leave another dozen either burning to death in their armour, or at least frantically tearing it off, and weaponless besides, and the rest of us could hold a narrow place where we cannot be swamped by their numbers. Station me directly behind Gwaelur where I have a reasonable field of fire or can stab with my sword over his head, and Theogrim and Thoroncir to either side of him… this is tempting, my friends. 
But first, to our scouting. Since there is no other need for the Invisibility, let it go on Mulligan. I will go too, relying on natural talent and my long legs if I must flee.
I have no desire to get into a fight with 100 Orcs, although I’m sure the stories of our brave last stand would be great and dramatic. Personally I would prefer to be alive to tell the tale.
Heading down now is a good idea as is finding a camp site at the same time. For the Orcs, they should be at their sleepiest, hopefully we can be in and out before we are noticed.
We could do with a bottleneck in the passage to fortify in case we come back in a hurry? Gwaelur, is there any way this entrance could be collapsed as a way of hiding our presence?
Ghân certainly agrees that we should inform the cavalry, but he doesn’t see how they are equipped to deal with this. Who’s going to ride horses through tunnels?
Ghân is happy to see Mulligan scouting, because information is priceless.
He can certainly throw in 3 Heat Metal s (no save unless they have Magic Armour!), affecting 9 orcs.
However, although he has hundreds of Goodberries, he can only use 8 on any one person per combat.
If we find a decent battleground, where two or three of our Fighters can block, I expect we can defeat dozens of orcs.
Ghân is thus also tempted.
DM, Can Moose enter the tunnels? Can he turn round in them?
Gwaelur would have no way to collapse these ancient and sturdy tunnels.
Moose could not enter or turn around most areas. However he is a good rear guard to have outside and faster than any orc.
It sounds like we are undecided on just scouting or finding a good camp.
The afternoon was waning as you entered the cave, a good 20-30 minutes have passed with useful caution and whispered discussion. Sunset will be around 7:30pm and it is already nearing 6:00pm
Renee, “I think the cavalry would be quite useful if they come, even if they do nothing more than provide extra support and guard the other entrances. However, Folca warning if any come from behind us in this entrance, Gil-Gandel’s plan sounds good. The three form a shield wall as Gil-Gandel and Brin fire over Gwaelur at different angles and Ghân & Deor support with spells. At some point the orcs will mass and charge and the spell casters should be able to lay many low. I will stand ready to heal the injured and you would have an invisible Hobbit to pick the right target to take down, perhaps an orc directing the attack. He also can rig up some rope traps here and there.
This technique was once used by Legolas & Gimli in helping King Elessar & Prince Faramir route out some orcs near Minas Ithil. They were mightier and had two great elven archers and four strong Dwarves in heavy armor and Anduril of course, but they did not have the spell casters or the invisible Hobbit. They slew 63 orcs before the orcs gave up and fled into a patrol of Ithilien Rangers and more elven archers outside their two bolt holes.
Sorry, it was mentioned I was studied in local history I think. This battle took place back in the year 7 FA."
… and one Shaman with a few Sleep spells and we are stuffed, not to mention throwing a Lightning Bolt as Gash did.
Before we start planning the glorious 9 against the 100, I think I will go and see what we are up against first.
Why are people so prepared to go for glory?
I would suggest that while I wander around with Gil-Gandel checking the opposition out, that other members of the party find us a camp site at the same time. I should only be about an hour or so. We can do more than one thing at once.
Rope traps, a couple of barrels of pitch and tar is more like it.
“Mulligan, the Shaman should not have sleeps or bolts and besides he would be your job”, Renee says with a laugh. “However your plan sounds safer, I think we need the Captain and his Lt. to weigh in among others.”
Well, my intermediate goal is to become a full-fledged Bard by composing an epic lay based on deeds I have participated in or witnessed…
Yes - we have enough spies on the ground and in the air that our foraging party can manage not to get into trouble.
An excellent plan with one or two minor drawbacks.
Gil-Gandel & Mulligan will scout below. Brin, **Ghân ** and Fang will look for a good camp/observation point.
Who goes with Brin, and who stays put in the cave opening?
Gwaelur will stay at the cave opening. Ready to assist if necessary.
Was Ghan able to locate the other spiders so we know where the entrances are? We could camp at Night and come back in the morning when the orcs are most likely asleep and trap all the entrances but one with fire or ropes (I like the idea of smoking them out personally) If we force all of the orcs to flee their lair from a single entrance and the cavalry (who should still be nearby) are able to meet us before we spring the traps, the orcs should be easy pickings as they clamber out of the cave.
We must have more reconosance before we make a firm decision.
I’ll go with Brin- if something happens, you’ll need me to translate for Folca.
One Shaman with a few Sleep spells and 5 orcs and we could be stuffed. But Shamans don’t cast Sleep or Lightning Bolt.
Of course you should scout.
Nevertheless, once the orcs discover the dead spider guard, they will know we are around.
Ghân is not interested in glory. He’s met Radagast 
and no amount of killing matches that.
However we may well be able to surprise and kill the orcs in a series of encounters.
If we meet them in a narrow corridor, I would expect our Fighters to simply mow them down (with some healing of course.)
I don’t know how safe a campsite will be.
If it’s close to the cave, what happens if the orcs search for us and attack at night (while our Fighters have no Armour)?
Dpending on what our scout turns up, Ghân wants to attack now.
Ghân can speak to Folca. If you stay in the cave, we have communication between all the different groups.
Moose should come with Brin and Fang.
Sadly Ghân’s Locate Animals has a short range (20 / level).
If we camp at night, the orcs will probably come out when we are asleep.
Trapping the entrances sounds fine at first, but do we do it from outside or from inside?
If outside, we may have a long journey and also have to search a lot.
If inside, we may as well kill the orcs.
Unfortunatly that plan was all based on the idea that you would know the location of the spiders, and thusly know where the entrances were. It all sort of falls apart if you don’t.
I may not have Speak With Animals, but I am a ranger - that should imply a degree of outdoor skill, just like being a Rohirrim implies horsemanship and mounted battle skill. Given an intelligent falcon, I’m sure I could interpret and/or rely signs. Talking Moose, while good for protection, still freak me out though.
Brin: Ghân is with you, so no fear, Deor might be better off staying with the group in the cave. that way messages could be sent from Deor to Ghân.
Ok, so what do Orc Shaman do. Are are we going to be lucky in that all they do is mumble a few words of pride before sending out the hordes to battle, or do they do a whole lot more…
In which case, I really hope the Orcs are stupid and do that instead of trying anything in the vague area of being sensible.
If you have any major sleep herbs or poisons I can use to slow down a whole troop of Orcs, now would be the time.
The shaman is a type of cleric, but with tendencies like our Wose companion.