"Pathfinder Campaign - A Call to Arms - S25" Topic

SESSION 25: NGEOTIATIONS

Quickly the party talks through a few options and then Halee summarises it. "Ok, I'll go to the door and talk to them. Uthalin will cut off the orc warlords head and give it to Thomas. Uthalin will then go to the other room and close the secret door and organise Dedrik and Ghislain to defend the place just in case and also to put out the net and put the two wounded men in it together with the heavy loot items, ready to go if we need to. Thomas will stand by me, ready to intimidate them with the warlords' head. Ansic and Cord will pile some of the furniture on the bed and move into a blocking position in front of the door so we can use it as a barrier against an attack or for us to counter attack from. Risandor you come close and get ready with caltrops, oil and maybe a sleep or grease spell." Halee is an extraordinarily fast talker and is able to get this summary out in a standard 6 second round.

Just before Halee speaks, Thomas drops a torch behind Baby Cord, casting a shadow of a giant crock feeding against the east wall.

Halee then addresses the orc interpreter "We've killed your warlord and wiped out the rest of your tribe. But it's ok, Gary sent us….."

The orc shouts back, "Hahaha. Dee oncee meegty Uffee Eelbow Smas'eer wasn't my warlord. Magor Spleeeen Spleetteer ees my warlord and ‘ee stands weed mee now." The interpreter is pushed forward from behind and he, Magor, a Matriarch and several orcs advance around the corner. Magor says something in orcish to the interpreter who repeats it in Common, "Magor danks you for keelleeng Uffee and ‘ees treebee for ‘eem. Now Magor ‘as dee strongeest treebee een dee valleey and ‘ee ‘as addeed Uffee's feemalees and young to ‘ees treebee to makee ‘eem eeveen strongeer now. Magor wants to talk about joeeneeng seedees to keell our eenemeeees dee ‘obgobleens and gobleens. Wee'vee got gold, wee could pay you and s'aree een loot and gobleen meeat. Gobleen meeat ees veery tasteey. Who ees Garee?"

[Orc accent: Orcs always use two "e". Replace one "e" with "ee". Orcs don't use "i", replace with "ee". They cannot pronounce "th" which is pronounced with a "d" and they cannot pronounce ‘h' which is silent and removed from the spoken word].

It takes Halee a few seconds to work out what the goblin is saying through its thick accent. Thomas notices that some of the orcs are armed with crossbows as well as falchions, he nudges Halee and discreetly points at one of the crossbow orcs to bring it to her attention. He peaks back to make sure that the men at arms are keeping watch of the western door and their escape route. He readies his short bow for a fire fight with the orcs.

Halee is about to respond when suddenly, BOOM, the western secret door is smashed open.

DEW

Going through Thomas's head

YES, sure we'll join you to kill the Hobgoblins.
I'll also convert to whatever religion orcs worship, Gork and Mork?

Pointing to Baby Cord's shadow
"Watch out there's a giant gator eating everyone"

"I'm not with them, I'm lost"

This is not a good place to be.

Once the orcs start down the corridor use grease and fire and caltrops and arrows to blunt/halt the attack for as long as possible. Whoever can be spared help Uthalin in the meantime. Sleep spell on the ones coming through the secret door? (Range?) Going to be dicey whatever the PCs do.

Maybe they're not working together.
If so then keeping the big group talking while everyone deal with the smaller group should be ok?

We've got one spell with Ris, so it's either Grease or Sleep, not both. I vote Grease as Sleep only affects 4HD total (max 4 orcs) while the grease affects all who try to get through it.

Ris and I both have some caltrops, which can endanger a 5ft square each (I believe I bought another "dose" or bag, so we can do three squares total. I am emailing DEW because back on 9/11 I indicated intention to buy some things that he has not said are in my possession (Tanglefoot Bags & Acid Flasks.)

I think generally it will be Tom's suggested tactics (grease, then caltrops after the grease for those that get through it) with Halee holding an action to attempting Intimidate on a single orc that might get through.

I think Thomas' Dazzling Display is best used on the other group, the shaken condition affects their to hit, but not their AC, so it does not make those that fall or are slowed any easier to hit, and wastes whatever penalty they would have on not-combat.

I think those rounds of shaken would be best used on the other group who are going toe to toe with our melee guys with no ranged weapons or a barrier or grease/caltrops slowing them down.

I think Cord, Ansic and Uthalin should all rush the smaller group to pin them in the choke point so they cannot spread out.

Thomas get to a point where he can Dazzling Display that group.

Halee dialogs… "You say Magor is strongest, bestest? He ran away like the sniveling, ankle-biting, goblin-loving cowardly pup he is! You saw it. Look at him, he doesn't deserve your loyalty, he's a drooling pup! If Magor was worth ANYTHING he would be right up front leading you, look how he shields himself with all of you like a coward! He wants you to die, does not care if you die, as long as HE is safe. There are many more of you than him, make him prove he's the bestest and strongest, make him come out front like a REAL LEADER should."

(Ris translate if he can…)

We'll check their reaction at that point. Ris ready to cast grease if they charge.

Set an action for all the ranged weapon guys to pepper Magor if they do push him to the front, try to drop him right away and force a morale check on the orcs.

Hopefully they fail and flounder, if they charge, Ris cast the grease, Halee with caltrops, then intimidate any that get through, ranged weapons, etc.

This is exactly what Echoco is suggesting also… fighting the backdoor group while talking with the bigger group.

All of that is OPINION only, not ordering a concrete set of actions… players make your suggestions for better options, please.

Grease is the word….. but maybe done so that the four orcs in front are the target. Then its caltrops, torch and inspire courage again….

I think we need to keep two front line fighters facing the big group, maybe Thomas and Cord? Ansic and Uthalin should be able to contain the other group and grind it down….

Risandor can also use daze against different opponents each round to stop front line orcs from attacking.

So, if the big group attack, grease.
Then start inspire courage, then targeted dazes.

Confirmed Halee has 2x Tanglefoot bags & 2x Acid Flasks, so there is that also.

Keeping two front liners with us I see as insurance for Ris and Halee, odds are their actions will be wasted if they do not have ranged weapons (which other than Thomas appears to be the case.)

Ris and Halee have the spells, caltrops, Intimidate and ranged weapons (with Thomas after the Dazzling Display on the other group.) My opinion is having 3 melee Ansic/Cord/Uthalin go for the smaller group kills the smaller group more quickly (action economy.)

Just opinion… the melee players need to sound off taking into account both options, perceived enemy reactions, and/or suggesting their own.

Guys I'm working through all the actions at the moment.

The combat has started but its big and complex in terms of graphics, special rules, spells etc. I probably won't be able to post today.

Just thought I let you know.

DEW

Whoa, big combat sounds bad.
I had hoped the two groups of orcs wouldn't be working together.