Chapter One: On to Dwimmermount

[drpete]

Ranulf finds that the big orc's chainmail was of makeshift quality, and might come apart during battle, but he finds a serviceable set of scale armor that doesn't look too damaged.

Solaine gives the men a blessing, but she knows that leaving them to the dungeon scavengers is not as good as giving them a proper burial, blessing or not.

And I finally realise whose picture I should have used for Rico. Ack

[Lamech]

Steel looks at the damage, glad he could save someone, but disgusted at the damage the orcs inflicted. Most unfortunate. I think the only move we can make here is to salvage what we can and retreat for now. If we can round up more brave men we could eradicate the orcs here. Stop them from defiling this place and keep them from hurting anyone else. Steel looks at the automaton and gets a waterskin from it before downing the water.

Depending on if we want to try and haul everything or not, I think Steel has 4 or 13 stone open for if we want to travel at full speed or not. If we share Steel's water the automaton can carry the jewelry. The armor is the best value for the weight I think.

[kalstone]

Solaine agrees. "First though, we need to do something with our friends. With no implements to dig, we cannot give them a proper burial out here. Perhaps we could raise a cairn over them outside." She looks over the orc armor to see if any is in good enough condition to sell.

[drpete]

The orc armor is generally in bad condition, as Ranulf discovered when he went through it. All of the suits besides the one he is putting on have something wrong with them... it mostly seems to be damage from the fight, but it would detract from the value.

Practically speaking, it's going to be difficult to build a cairn or bury them. Remember that it's freezing cold outside, and that you guys don't have winter gear. Torgyr runs a genuine risk of death from exposure if he sits around while you guys gather rocks. He's moving slower than before, so it'll probably take more than 3 hours to get back to Muntberg.

The pile of 12 trinkets is half a stone, they aren't half a stone each.

[kalstone]

Solaine looks over at Torgyr worriedly. "We need to get him back to town as soon as possible," she says. "Let's take the jewelry and whatever we can recover from our friends' bodies then burn them."

[drpete]

Sounds good. Let me know what stuff you take, and if it moves you to a new encumbrance level.

Also, help me understand the burning plan... are we pouring oil on them, or piling torches on them, or...? Is this happening where they fell, at the top of the stairway at the red doors, or what...?

Edit: Here's a map of the situation... 11 of the orcs are in the pile in the west, as are Tychon and Rico. You can see the door, barely, at the limits of your torches view down the west hall. This view shows the east and north doors, because you've looked at them before, but they are cloaked in darkness. This also points out that you need to think about Ajax. You can leave him here, or someone can take him. He's no longer an animal henchman, but he can be handled by somebody as a trained dog, if you like.

After combat.PNG (435.87 KiB) Viewed 521 times

[kalstone]

Solaine motions to Ranulf, "Help me get these bodies up the stairs. We can't give them a proper burial, but at least we can get them out of this place."

[drpete]

Date: Keymont 26, 11:40 am
Season: Early Fall
Weather: Cold and Snowing (Freezing)
Moon phase: Waning Crescent
Light Sources: In Statue (Torch, 10 minutes remaining), In Stairway (Torch, 10 minutes remaining)
Location: Red Doors/Top of Stairway

You strip the jewelry from the orcs, and remove the gear from your fallen comrades, then laboriously lug their bodies up the stairs and out of the dungeon. As you are reaching the top of the stairs with the second body (Rico's) you hear movement below. You can see several metallic, skeletal figures moving around the orc bodies, examining them. They don't seem to have noticed you, as you are up the stairs.

Note: You guys have been going nonstop for an hour, and are in need of rest. You will be at -1 to attack and damage rolls until you've had a 10 minute rest.

[Zorroroaster]

Torgyr isnt completely coherent, but he still recognizes a threat when he sees one.

He whispers to his companions. "We need to leave. Now."

[kalstone]

Solaine thinks Sorry, my friends as she and Ranulf heave the bodies of Rico and Tychon over the ledge. "I agree, let's go." she whispers back.

[Lamech]

Steel is already walking off with his damaged set of scale armor looted from the orcs. If no one else took it, he's placed the jewelry in a bad on the automaton. "Let's get back to town. We can rest when we're safe."

[drpete]

Date: Keymont 26, 1:00 pm
Season: Early Fall
Weather: Coolong and Windy (Cold)
Moon phase: Waning Crescent
Location: Alchemist's Door

The party makes its way very slowly down the mountain. Between treasures and wounds, the trip is very slow, and the group makes it back to the Alchemist's Door almost two hours of walking. Torgyr, never the hardiest of dwarves, is shivering badly from the freezing weather. A case of frostbite, on top of his wounds may kill him. It'll be touch and go whether he makes it at this pace without warmer gear.

You pause for a moment at the Alchemist's Door that you passed on the way up. You spot a small brown dragon flying overhead. It seems to be circling, looking for food. After a moment, you see it dive down onto the stair above you, then take to the sky with the body of one of your companions dangling from its claws.

[Zorroroaster]

Torgyr shivers, looking up at the dragon.

"W-w-what a w-w-way to g-g-go. S-s-someone do me a fu-fu-favour and wrap a couple more blankets around me as we go. I need to stay w-warm."

Torgyr will wrap his blanket around himself for extra warmth, and do the same with both Rico and Tychon's if they were carrying them. He will also ask to walk in the center of the party, to cut down on windchill.

[kalstone]

Solaine offers her blanket to Torgyr. "Woman up, soldier. You're not allowed to die."

Perhaps we should stop and build a fire to let Torgyr recover a bit.

[drpete]

Wrapped in blankets, Torgyr starts to thaw, and doesn't seem to in imminent danger of freezing anymore. He could probably benefit from a fire and a rest, but he would benefit even more from a real bed. Do you pause yo make a fire, or press on to make town before dinner?

[Zorroroaster]

Press on!

[drpete]

Lol, I was just deciding we should just fast forward back to town instead of worrying about this. New post is up.