6/20/2009

Chris: DM
Kathi: Tanji & Krysylys
JC: Neysa & Ana

Roughly Sundown of Day 3.

We look for a spot to camp. Ana hears multiple heavy booted footfalls coming towards us. He pantomimes, touches his ears and indicates for everyone to silently get off the trail. He heads to the right and behind a second row of trees.

Once we are hidden, we see a small group of huge, very imposing orcs moving in a disciplined manner. They're not loud or disorganized as one would usually expect with a group of orcs. We also note these are all dressed alike, in good armor and holding well crafted weapons at the ready.

Of the group, one is simply enormous, hulk sized. We remain behind a second copse of trees from the road and try to stay hidden, though we are prepared with our bows drawn and ready. When two of them leave the trail and come straight for us it's obvious we've not managed to get fully hidden.

MELEE

We kill the first one too us but the others stride into the trees advancing with weapons ready. Tanji hops down from Krys's horse to hide while Rumblekin casts Hold Person on another one. Ana gets Charger to attack. (There is another orc trailing this group that we have not seen yet.)

Tanji kills the big one with a particular vicious sneak attack from behind. [Tanji Note: The bigger they are, the more handy the sneak attack.] Ana fires arrows with deadly accuracy, and Neysa uses two flame arrows. Rumblekin then casts Burning Hands. Tanji searches the big one and gleefully finds lots of quality stuff.

The battle continues until there is only the one lagging behind the others. At first, he continues down the path toward us, but then he sees all his compatriots dead and turns and flees back the way he came. Ana takes after him, finally catching and killing him.

All of these orcs, as well as their matching armor and master work weapons, have a red and black emblem with a stylized orange lightning bolt on the top left corner with mountain peaks behind.

Tanji finds and pockets a Potion. [Note Forward: Cure Moderate Wounds.] The other valuables are placed in the satchel of holding.

It is starting to get dark so the group advances to find the last remaining body. Looking for a campsite, we remain off the road and find a spot relatively hidden from view.

During the night, we hear a regiment of orcs marching by in an orderly, military formation. Tanji and Ana slip undercover to the road for a closer inspection. We watch in stunned and careful silence as between 100 and 200 in a tight military formastion pass by. The leader is enormous and decked out in high quality plate mail. Near the leader is another orc that stands out because he is wearing a robe rather than armor. Ana thinks he may be a shaman.

Ana and Tanji remain hidden for several minutes after they pass to make sure there are no more before they return to the others.

Ana's watch passes quietly. Kris and Tanji sit at opposite ends of the camp for second watch but nothing further occurs.

Morning of Day 4.

The next morning, Ana finally places the emblem worn by the orcs. It's a symbol most often associated with the Thunder Peak mountains. Once he shares this information, Krys is able to continue with the legend of an orc tribe that used to live there but was thought to be completely exterminated. The others laugh grimly when Ana comments "Apparently not."

The morning's travel is quiet and we stop for lunch where Neysa, as usual, provides for Elf and Beast with a well crafted Create Food & Water spell. In the afternoon, Ana spots the area that he believes indicates the passage of the orcs joining up with the path we were on.

We find a good camping spot and settle into the usual routine for watches. The evening passes quietly.

End of session.

Next Session 7/25/2009