The Stinking Bugbear Cave (Intro)

[Computer +1]

Shozbot

First to Kermut he replies in Orcish

Does it matter? I wouldn't assault a guard tower head on anyway. Unless we send in the weak and enter another way.

He switches to Blackspeech
Head on attack tower no good. Sneaky and smart needed. One guard make noise and we too few. He points toward NardGrog, Let see map.

[Rex]

Othrod

"Lets see the newer one. How small to sneak in the way that we found? I am big, but sneaky."

[Rusty Tincanne]

Horny Carl stays silent for a while, growing more irritated that so many of these creatures are speeking in foreign tongues. No say no more in not-Black Speak. Makes no sense. He looks over the map and tries to recall anything he might know, then just shakes his head, his horns almost hitting the others. Not know nothing. Why could I know? What you saying?

Another voice chimes in in fluent black speech. Defensive, isn't he?

Shut it, sword. You just kill the towner-folks and be happy 'bout that. He walks outside for a bit and argues with the length of steel, finally returning, very much irritated. It think it too smarter.

[ravenn4544]

Ondrake picks his nose and waits for some new map to be shown. He's not sure you really need a map when the Keep is probably still where it's always been.

[Pulpatoon]

Thamansa leans to her Chieftain's ear and purrs in Bugbear:

"Give me the orc. He'll sneak me inna the Keep, while the others fling blood and thunder. They can fill the demon's larder with hu-man souls, and I'll bring you this magician's gizzard, and a heap of ashes as used t'be the front gate."

[OGRE MAGE]

Ok, we are gonna move this along. Hopefully SB can catch up once he's able.

Nardgrog turns the corners of his mouth up in a very ugly smile, showing off his thick fangs. He appears to enjoy all the comments he has heard so far, especially from his kin. Unfurling a stinking deer hide covered with black soot markings, walls, and circles, Nardgrog lays the larger map out on the slab for everyone to see. He tells you what he knows about the place, pointing to each tower with his long, hairy index finger as he speaks.

"The keep was built on a high plateau of solid rock. A small path off of the main road is the only way to enter the place, unless you want to climb up a high, rocky ravine. Which we can!" He points to the tiny path on the lower right hand corner of the map that slopes up towards the top of the rocky plateau. "The area of the building is smaller now, and a lot of the towers have been modified, but the basic layout still looks the same."

"We have tried a full on frontal assault at the gates before, but that didn't work at all. We need a better plan of attack! I suggest that we look this map over and discuss our options together. I hope that once we start suggesting a few ideas, others can feed off those ideas until we have a decent plan worked out."

"The amulet has the power to teleport you all there magically from here with minimal discomfort, but using it to return is not exactly foolproof, as we had to learn the hard way last time. So, I suggest that once we have a few ideas to go off of, you all use the amulet to get there yet today. If you spend the rest of this day and night sneaking around the outside of the place, you may find a few other options that we didn't think of here. If you have to use the amulet to return before the attack, Thamansa can activate its powers."

"With enough good information about their defenses, we can plan out ways to counter some of them. My spies have told me of a possible way inside of the walls, though it wont work for all of you. There is a freshly unearthed tunnel on the opposite corner of the path. It was found in the ravine wall and is guarded by an outcropping of rock so the guards in the tower shouldn't see you going in that way." He points to the northwest corner of the map.

"It is believed that this was an old forgotten escape tunnel that is no longer in use. I think that is a good place for you to start. But, the opening is not large, so some of you wont be able to fit." He leers at the ugly giant and the strange minotaur, hoping that the rest of the group should be able to use it.

"I will answer any of your questions about the new layout of the keep right now. But it will be up to your group to gather any information I cant offer."

viewtopic.php?f=694&t=8176#p402444

[Rusty Tincanne]

Horny Carl trusts his face up trying to think of the words he wants, Why not you put us on tower with... rock lobber? Then we turn it 'round and use it on town. Many die. Then we use ropes to jump over edge and escape?

Or do people need dying in special way to count?

[OGRE MAGE]

Nardgrog gives the large minotaur a strange look, wondering why he vocalizes so strangely.

"The amulet will get you close, but you are on your own from there. It wont allow you to appear in a specific place."

"But using their weapons against them is not a bad idea.....Carl. We don't know which tower is the most dangerous, so you will need to assess that yourselves. Though the tallest square one has always had a sinister reputation of raining doom upon us in the past."

The huge brute stops talking for a moment, as if he is dredging up some long lost memory of the place.

"If there were only a way to observe the towers from above." He continues to stare at the quiet kobold.

"Anyone else have a suggestion, or are you ready to go?"

[Rex]

Othrod

"I am ready. Death and destruction to our enemies!"

[Pulpatoon]

Thamansa: "Fly? Hah! You don't need this little bat for that." She indicates the quiet kobold. "I'll grab the winds by the scruff of their necks and break them to my will! It... er, it ain't th' most dignified act, an' I don't care to do it for long, but when our pretty bauble takes us there, I can play sparrow right enough.

"Ennybody got a spyglass or summat to help me peer down from the clouds and spot the Keeps secrets and sins?"

[Scott308]

Kermut

The gnoll stands up and stretches.

In orcish:

Ready.

[ravenn4544]

Ondrake seems to be ready. Hard to tell from his indifference to whats going on around him. "Can we eat first?"

[Starbeard]

In the corner of the room, the winged kobold has long since lost the plot, having become intensely distracted by the large flask in his possession. He tumbles the thing end over end, arrested by thoughts of a simplicity only a kobold could fathom, when accidentally he pops off the cork stopper with a loud bang. The stopper blasts off across the room like a bullet, releasing from the decanter a massive jet of water that rockets the kobold straight into the ceiling with a frightened shriek.

The kobold ricochets from surface to surface on the back of the decanter, completing several laps around the cave before becoming stuck in a narrow corner long enough for someone to replace the stopper and end the jet stream.

"Yackayack! Loopis head hurt! No like! No like!" Loopis wobbles and paces to and fro in frustration, wringing out his leathery wings. Once dry, however, his temperament is quickly repaired and he considers the decanter with renewed interest. "Loopis try that again. Pretty fun, pretty fun." For a moment he eyes the cave walls with suspicion. "Maybe outside though."

Suddenly recalling the conversation at hand, Loopis puffs up and displays his awful wings. "Hey, what what? Loopis fly better than any bugbug! Big old bugbug not even have wings! Loopis got wings, lookit. Psh."

He adopts a smug, officious high step and marches toward the exit to prove his superior aerial form. "Which tower you want? Loopis look at all them real neat. Yep, yep."

[Computer +1]

Shozbot

Shozbot looks over the map with the others. He takes his time thinking for a few minutes. The distraction of the Kobold brings him back to present.
This weakest tower he says in Blackspeech while pointing at the middle square tower on the Western side. Think most guards live there but is oldest. Towers in back new. Tower in front fixed. Tower here he points to the middle eastern round tower be fixed now.

He looks up at the assorted group. We need see best way in, tower or no tower. Take time do this right or end up dead.

[OGRE MAGE]

Othrod, Kermut, and Ondrake, state their eagerness to go spill human blood. The giant would like another meal first, though.

Nardgrog still seems to be dwelling on something the minotaur said earlier. He becomes clearly upset once a few members of the group exclaim their desire to go off and fight with such an obvious lack of a solid plan.

"Really? So every one of you can die? SIT DOWN AND LISTEN IF YOU DONT HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO OFFER!!!" The huge bugbear chieftain roars.

And then, in perfect kobold timing, Loopis makes his mischievous introduction, spraying water all over the cave with his prized magic item. This little show doesn't improve the mood of the chieftain one bit, his fangs now dripping with angry saliva. The homely bugbear witch suddenly calls for a spyglass, reporting that she too can fly if necessary, but she gets no response from the others, who have likely never even seen such an item.

Nardgrog smashes his fist on the stone slab hard enough to break bones, just about to start shouting again, when Shozbot voices his concerns. The battle hardened orc appears to know some things and has clearly put a great deal of thought into the raid so far. He tells the group that the square tower on the west side of the keep is rumored to house all of the off duty guards. He believes that this tower is the only remaining original structure of the keep, explaining that it will be the most vulnerable to attacks.

Nardgrog calms slightly at the discussion of strategy, giving the lowly orc a nod of appreciation.

"You seem to know a lot about the keep, Shozbot. That is good! Information like yours might keep some of you alive. And I agree that the tall tower is the most dangerous. I remember a time when the humans could rain fire down upon us from that tower. If the fire shooting machine is still in place, that tower will also be the deadliest one to attack."

"Does anyone else have something to offer before you leave?"

[Urson]

Horsefly

The old goblin has been quiet- hard to tell if he's been thinking deep thoughts or just dozed off. He rattles his casting bones again, scowls at the results, and speaks up.

I been here many years- many,many. Last time we tried to fight the Keep, we has people all 'round- he points, seemingly at random, at various spots along the walls. We gots over de walls fast, had lotsa dead guys to rob from. I tink youse need find alla places you can sneak in at same times, make big-big chaos. Be careful of big tower- drops fire on us, it did. Who gonna go spyin'?

[Computer +1]

Shozbot

Shozbot feels relief when the bugbear chieftain echoes his thoughts about not heading out too soon. When the old goblin speaks an idea comes to Shozbot.

If want to stab high need to look low he muses in Blackspeech. Need to see if way in on West tower. Need to make sure not seen. He looks over the larger members of the group. Maybe need make noise on East side to bring eyes while others he gestures at the winged kobold and the witch, can take look.

He continues in Orcish

If we draw enough eyes but stay at distance they can see more. So long as fools dont charge a tower and get killed.

[OGRE MAGE]

Nardgrog sneers at the quiet group as he answers the orc and goblin.

"I agree with the idea of entering in more than one area. That is a sound strategy. If there is a wizard in the tower, you don't all want to be in the same place, believe me."

"Shozbot is right! Again!" The huge brute give his offspring a snarl for letting himself be outdone by the lowly orc.

"If the rest of you are having trouble grasping what is about to happen, maybe a trip there will spark some ideas for you? The amulet will drop you in an area close to the newly discovered passage in the cliff wall. You can figure out what to do from there!"

The huge bugbear reaches up to a high shelf and retrieves a gold chain adorned with a large blood red gem.

"If there is nothing left to discuss, we will send you on your way!"

A commotion can suddenly be heard developing outside the cave mouth. It doesn't sound like battle or arguing, more like cheering and revelry, mostly in the orcish language.

If your character doesn't have anything else to say here, I would still like you to post some kind of action for them anyway. That way I know when everyone is ready and we aren't waiting around for no reason. Thanks!

[Rex]

Othrod

Othrod snarls at his chief. In Bugbear "I am ready!" In Blackspeach "We need to go and take advantage of our surprise, I will lead the way in through the tunnel if I fit well Thamansa and Loopis try and take the high tower. Those who don't fit should attack the weak tower."

[Scott308]

Kermut

The gnoll chimes in using the orcish tongue:

I go with sneaky group.