Nice backstab!
So, can we assume that Deor has shouted this information about the signal fire and the Crebain to the rest of us or are we still in the dark?
I think it is safe to assume Deor is relaying this information.
Elfstan takes a quick look at Brin’s wounds and offers him the goodberries he’s carrying (should be eight again) if Brin doesn’t have any.
He then shouts, “We need to reform and rally together! We are are too strung out!”
Assuming no more orcs are popping out of the woodwork, Elfstan then looks to see if any are still living. We need to find out what that fire signals! Fast!
Agreed. Let’s defeat these orcs in the hall and leave the orc-lair ASAP. It’s time we were on our way. Someone will want to pick up the finely-made longsword, I assume.
Not to mention a set of trapped animals.
Not to mention the shit-ton (if you’ll pardon the term) of loot we found in the throne room; it won’t take long to collect, and I’ll bet one of our tanks is just itching to try out that expensive armor we found.
“Do we have any effective way of concealing ourselves from the Crebain?” Miron wonders, casting a worried eye towards the (presumably) still-berserk Hodwain. “I doubt we can outrun them, and if they spot us they’ll likely point us out to the vampire or the remaining hordes. I hope that a battle is not inevitable, but if it is I think we should spend our time securing the best place to fight from.”
“Getting away from here as soon as possible may be our best course of action, but let’s finish what we came to do and be as wary as possible. There are certainly still orcs about. There’s also a vampire and whatever is being summoned by the signal fire. The Crebain itself could be hazardous to us. This Hobbit doesn’t want to be a snack for any flying creature be it a crow or a vampire.”
With that Elfstan takes a glance at Sting’s blade to see how brightly it’s glowing.
Folca is still invisible, so Deor will ask her to stay put for the moment- Crebain may be sharp-eyed, but I doubt they’ll detect an invisible creature if it doesn’t move.
“The enemy knows exactly where we are and has summoned help- we should move out. Let’s gather the best of the loot, release the animals and leave, probably the same way we came in. It’s still daylight out, and if the vampire is summoned, we’ll be best able to fight it outside.”
After seeing the last of the orcs dispatched, Deor will carefully wrap the long sword up in his cloak and proceed wherever the party decides to go.
If the orcs are safely dispatched, Ghân will move in to cure, using Goodberries first and Cure Light Wounds next.
He is happy to release any captive animals (and carry some treasure).
The fierce bear completes his carnage. The orcs are dead or at least mangled and moaning. He gives a huge shake and blood and gore fly off his body and he shrinks back down to his normal albeit very large size and shape. He gathers his belongings and brings back one spear. “This one is magical as it was able to hurt me.”
Brin eats the 8 berries proffered by Elfstan and Ghân administers herbal healing and binging for 2 more. Renee casts her double strength cure light for another 12 points. Brin is now full.
Ghân provides Gwaelur with herbal healing for 2 and 8 berries to be at full.
Renee binds Thoroncir wound and heals it with herbal medications and one berry.
Ghân and Renee combine to heal Hodwain. They apply several herbal medications and give him 8 berries. Renee then casts double strength cure light for another 8 points. Hodwain is now down only 4 points and says, “My thanks, I am find, I heal quickly.”
Renee can offer up one more detect magic after everything is gathered. Everyone else works on gathering things back up near the King’s Hall and prepare to leave. The Detect Magic finds that the finely made **Long Sword ** and the **Large Shield ** from the same orc & the **Spear ** that Hodwain brought over are magical.
The animals that were seen in the cages: Rats, lizards, birds, a polecat, a skunk, a small wild cat and many, many mice and shrews.
The Hobbits lead Ghân & Hodwain down to free the animals.
Sting is glowing less strong currently and grows weaker as the three near the animals. Its light is very helpful in maintaining speed in these darker halls.
They get to the animals and thankfully find all alive. The Hobbits each grab a small cage holding mice or shrews. Hodwain and Ghân talk to the animals, calming them and telling them to follow them out to freedom. The small wildcat climbs up Mulligan and licks Mulligan’s face. The lizards climb on Hodwain and the rest are ready to scurry. Hodwain has the largest cage with many mice in it.
The small group returns to the main party and they should now be ready for departure.
Riglo, “Are we forgetting anything before we go?”
I think I made a friend 
Hobbit plan #1
- [del]Sneak in through batcave entrance[/del]
- [del]Check how the Orcs are feeling in the caves. [/del]
- [del]Check for the Vampire, bad feeling, nerves, captives, a leader.[/del]
- [del]Head for the observation entrance [/del]
- [del]Let the party in.[/del]
- [del]Let the party, Party.[/del]
- [del]Rescue animals[/del]
- Depart before anything big turns up.
- Report back to Caramir
- Sing merrily all the way to Minas Tirith.
On track methinks.
So, checklist of stuff to grab
King’s Hall treasure
Orc corridor treasure
Animals
I suggest part 8 next, I think everyone is here and healed, let’s try and go before the other group of Grilianch turns up.
Do we want to leave any traps behind, or is the general carnage enough. And what about the group of 13 Orcs still asleep. Do we want to find out what the message of importance was?
Nice checklist, CatInASuit. With the watchfire burning and the Crebain swarming, I think we had best be on our way.
I repeat my earlier suggestion to send a written message to Prince Caramir via one of the party’s avian companions. Perhaps the Gondorian cavalry can sortie from the fort to meet us along the way?
I second this suggestion. Would it be worth taking the time to wake up a few of the sleeping orcs to try and get some info out of them? The king wasn’t exactly a fountain of information.
Riglo, “I am in favor of speed, let’s make this sleep permanent for the orcs and begone from here quickly. The message to Caramir sounds like a good plan but I also think having Folca’s eyes in the sky while we travel is worth even more. Can the owl do this trick?”
And don’t forget that any message sent to Caramir should ask for our horses as well.
A fast getaway is always good idea.
I’d like to keep Folca around too- could Brownie or Miron’s falcon (I’m forgetting her name) send the message?
So the list of magic items located so far stands at:
Long Sword
Large Shield
Spear
Elven Pouch
Armor
Knife
War Axe
Ring
Ruby Pendant
Scimitar
Plus other assorted weapons and armor of lesser value, which we could sell but might leave so as to make a quicker getaway. The King’s crown and jewelry aren’t magical but are probably valuable and light enough to take. It’s a pretty good haul- let’s gather it up and move out into the sunlight, in case the orcs are trying to summon Grilanch.
Miron would be happy to send his hawk (Swift Wing) with the message. He also offers to try and spot-heal Hodwain, if normal herbs work on him.
The war axe was magic? I missed that. Um…would anyone object to me taking the magic axe? I am somthing of a collector.
I think someone once said something about never counting your money while you’re sitting at the table. We are definitely still sitting at the table so to speak. That said, considering the party makeup, I doubt you will hit objections. Someone has to carry it out of here after all.
Elfstan gets near Ghân and says, “Ghân, would you be able to quickly speak with one of these animals?”
He continues to the party in general, “The orc king didn’t seem to know about them. I think we should find out who caged them and what if anything can be found out about the room beyond where they were held.” (with the beetles and the methane gas)
“There may still be a puzzle here that we haven’t solved. These little animals could hold a clue. I would like to ask these sleeping orcs about the signal fire and the Crebain as well, but I understand if we need to make tracks. Maybe Hodwain feels like carrying one of them out? If so, I have some rope that will bind one very nicely.”