The night passes quietly.
September 8th dawns sunny and warm...a perfect day for killing orcs.
Humphrey smiles at the lady, "My name is Humphrey, glad to be at your service my lady."
Humphrey goes and puts on a guard uniform.
"Well, I am ready for whatever. Note, If we encounter orcs that we can count on 1 hand, then let us fighters take care of em, right Banquo?"
Banquo scoffs and says, "On one hand! Not worth the time or effort, let the support staff have them (he waves at Raz). He seems to think he is supposed to take care any encounters without thinking beforehand anyway."
Aldarin discovers that he can fit into one of the smaller uniforms, even though he is an elf.
As you finish breakfast you hear more sounds from the road.
Sneaking up to take a look, you see a platoon of orcs riding west.
Checking the fort, you see that everything appears to be normal.
Raz merely looks at Banquo with distaste and continues to ready himself.
Britan looks at Raz and starts to giggle.
Britan was up early tending to his armor, weapons and horse and then goes over and finds a uniform that will fit him and puts it on.
"Well at least it is a sunny day nice and warm a good day to trash some Orc's."
Kelar turns to Sharone.
"Hello my name is Kelar and as Banquo asked what were you doing riding around up here by yourself? Also are you a cleric? You said you worshipped some person if I remeber correctly."
Sharone smiles at Kelar " Yes I am a cleric to the God Idun "
" I was on a pilgrimage to my god when the foul orcs attacked me and my escort. I would appreciate the opportunity to avenge the death of my friends and the intrusion on the request from Idun. So if its ok by the group I would like to assist you with your mission....." She looks around the group for acceptance.
Raz gives her a quick nod.
Britan Looks at Sharon and says, " I for one welcome anyone who would want to aid us in vanquishing the evils of the world."
Britan finishes putting on his guard uniform and then cleans and oils his sword and Armor then cares for his steed.
Raz suddenly puts on a uniform as well.
Raz looks at the others and asks, "Are we ready?"
" I am ready...please explain what the group intends to undertake this day for the honour of Idun." says Sharone.
Raz watches the young woman with a small smile on his face.
Britan: "What the Mighty Raz is going to let the rest of us have some fun too?" As he smiles under his Helm.
Raz smiles in spite of himself, bows, and says, "Since I am obviously not as respected as the mighty warriors here in our group, I will defer to your opinion. What is it you desire O'mighty Britan?"
Britan looks at Raz and says, "Don't get so glum there Raz Just because your the Butt of the Jokes for now Cheer up and later I will beat you at poker again."
He smiles.
"Banquo had a plan," says McTavish. "Something about trashing yonder orc-hold, but letting a few escape to take the news to the bosses in Brach Prol that it was a raiding party from Black Gate that did the deed. That's what the uniforms are for. In the ensuing confusion, we get into Brach Prol and clean up."
The dwarf looks at Banquo.
"Am I close?" he asks, before continuing, "Anyway, I think I should keep a low profile. I'm a dwarf and I think my presence would be a dead giveaway...unless you want to make me look like some sort of prisoner or something. An' how about the other non-humans? Aldarin's a big elf...he can pass for a human...but what about Kelar an' Farad?
"Are you ready to move out? Time's a-wastin'."
Humphrey, who is 6'3 about 230 lbs with sandy brown hair and crystal blue eyes and always seems to have a smile on his face, again smiles over at Sharone.
"It seems Sharone, that you have found yourself in company where you will be greatly appreciated.
"Well I am ready to go and smash the orc hold. Shall we venture forth?"
Kelar says, "You know McTavish you might actually have thought of something without being drunk first. But I don't think that they would be expecting other peoples soldiers to bring in prisoners to thier keep."
"But in as I don't have a better idea. Besides this might be even better. THe ones that escape see dwarves and elves helping and they may think that the ole North Gaters have joined forces with them and are now trying to take over Branch Pol."
McTavish nods.
"I thought we were just going to fireball the place to smithereens", says Raz with a knowing smirk on his face.
Banquo puts his hands in his face and says, "Yes Raz we are going to fireball the place but that is only the opening phase of the plan. We must not forget the final objective is to get the forces in Brach Pol depleted so we can get in and take out the Vampire Cleric. We need to save our most effective spells against a Vampire/Cleric so he will not know we have them. A fireball can be used as I do not think that is an uncommon enough spell to be real useful against him but we should save others and use grunt work if we can. We also do not want to present so great a threat that Imrimil will be called upon to send reinforcements. Farad, can you draw out a map of the compound so we know where is best to hit them? If we can blow the barracks before most of them are awake we will save ourselves a lot of trouble...not to mention keep from destroying any information or valuables unnecessarily."
Raz gets very serious. "I didn't realise that we were planing to take out the Vampire Cleric. I think it is a very dangerous plan Banquo. I don't think any of us have the power to take him out if he sees us comming. I though that we were just going to hit the outpost and run."
Farad nods. "Aye, simple is best. We don't care if anyone knows the truth or not. The best thing is for those in uniforms to simply walk forward and when Raz is in range he unleashes a fireball. I, and perhaps Aldarin too, will be following invisibly behind. Once Raz's spell has detonated, I'll release mine to mop up anything that is left. The only reason we bother with the uniforms is so that if the dead are questioned, those alive at the time will know only that Black Gate is responsible."
Banquo nods and says, "I agree it is not an easy task but Farad and some others did not seem willing to let this outpost pass without destroying it and destroying this outpost without giving an obvious reason for it's destruction will cause the devastation of the area, dead peasants, rape, pillage etc. The fake reason also probably would not fool the lord of Brach Pol. This leaves us with either passing the outpost by or taking out the Vampire. That is why I want to keep all our cards as secret as we can. If it looks like a raiding party he won't be expecting an assault by a reasonably strong party. Now if you want to pass the outpost by that is fine with me but you guys need to make a decision on your goals. I thought it had been settled but I seem to have been wrong."
Farad laughs. "Banquo, it matters not where things are in the compound. A single fireball will immolate the entire complex."
Britan Speaks up and says, " When we do this we should think about taking some stuff from the compound to give it that Raiding party look not the fact that all that happened there was the Orc's were slaughtered."
Farad shrugs. "I didn't see anything of any great value inside. I doubt even a fanatical Black Gater would care if he took something or not so long as the orcs were dead."
Aldarin nods, "I agree with Banquo on that we need to plan this out a little more strategically instead of just lobbing fireballs in. Also, I think Britan is right, we should take out as much of the compound as possible and do a little raiding in the process to lend even more to the illusion."
"I think we should wait and see how this little raid on the orc-hold pans out first, before deciding to take out the vampire," comments the dwarf. "Plus, we should reccon Brach Prol as well."
Farad nods. "Yes, I think we should attempt to fight the vampire lord. His death would put this region into chaos and be a great blow against the evil of this land. Besides, Pillar was quested to kill a vampire lord. If his god thought him capable of doing so, perhaps we can manage it."
Kelar says, "Nothing personal here but how many people here actually have weapons that can hurt this vampire...and second about Pillar's god thinking him capable that should be taken at face value here...Pillar was crazier than a loon. His god probably thought that he could take on a dragon and succeed."
"I like the idea of take out the orcs let them think it was the black Gaters and then be gone."
Britan says, "None taken and as of right now maybe only two Farad and Mctavish and Raz with his spell that is right now our defense against the Vampire the rest of either do not or have no idea what the weapons we carry do!"
"I've got a second magic longsword," says McTavish. "Someone can borrow it."
He turns to Banquo.
"Know of any ruins or dungeons around here? They may be the places to grab some magic before we take on the vampire."
It appears as if some sort of consensus has almost been reached, so you complete your preparations and move out. Farad and Aldarin are invisible. Aldarin, Illyana, Britan, Humphrey and Raz are in the uniforms of Black Gate.
You move out to the road and make your way east, traversing the mile or so down to Vile Orchold in fifteen minutes or less.
The place looks even more disgusting close up, and smells considerably worse. The gate faces the road, and is open, revealing run down buildings within. Several orc-guards stand there arguing with each other, and pay you no heed. Several orc-children are playing in the dirt outside...torturing a young prairie dog that was unlucky enough to be caught by them.
You stop about 50' away from the gate. It is only now that the guards look up and notice you...seeing the uniforms.
One orc pushes the other orc towards the gate, muttering something to him urgently...
As you headed for the fort, the discussion continued...
"Yes, I must agree with Kelar here", says Raz with a nod, "I don't think we have the firepower to take on a Vampire King....I too think we should just strike here and be gone."
Britan looks around the group and says, " I also have to agree with Kelar and Raz I do not think we have the Firepower nor the weapons to take on a Vampire King and you have to think of this also I dought he is the only Vampire there and if he is at all smart there are many more nasty creatures inside that we may not have enough magic spell or weapons to contend with."
Banquo looks at Raz sideways and says, "Since when does being the top-dog in a backwater town make you a king?"
McTavish chuckles.
"Let's see how we do here, first, why don't we..?"
Banquo adds, "There are several ruins south of Brach Pol but I have never been to them."
Illyana covers her face. "I don't think an 18 year old woman is a typical Black Gate guard. Lucky my armor is so heavy, it covers me well."
At the fort...
"I don't suppose anyone can understand him? This could get dangerous rather quickly." says Illyana in a low voice.
Kelar agrees.
"This could get uglier even faster if we arn't careful also." he says. "Banquo I nominate you as spokesman. You probably won't make any mistakes about locl customes as the rest of us are sure to"
Banquo says they are saying, "Go tell da boss...mumble...mumble..."
Sharone remains silent.... a female voice may just sound a little out of place. She takes a firm of her mace just in case things go wrong.
Aldarin watches the orcs closely.
Britan prepares himself discreetly to attack the orcs.
McTavish glances at Raz.
On que, Raz launches two fireball spells into the orc compound in such a way as to prevent any orcs from escaping the blaze.
Farad waits until Raz' spells have exploded and then releases one of his own to mop up anything that might remain.
Raz's fireballs explode one behind the other...the first going off just inside the gate and sending a long, hot tongue of flame shooting out through it.
The orcs at the gate are incinerated...as are the children and a number of other orcs inside.
The second fireball detonates towards the back of the compound.
You hear loud cries and screams from back there...which end quickly.
The compound goes up in flames quickly, as Farad releases his fireball, off to the right of the gate...towards where the command post is.
A man - badly burned already - in ring mail and brandishing a gleaming scimitar is charging at you from that direction in a futile attempt to do battle with you...as Farad's fireball goes off in his face.
When the smoke and flames clear, there is nothing left of him...save for a pile of metallic slag and the scimitar, lying on the ground.
The entire orchold has been reduced to a blazing inferno within a minute. An enormous black cloud rises slowly into the calm air above the fort.
There is no sign of any survivors.
"What were you saying about a lack of firepower, Kelar..?" asks McTavish with a grin.
"Not a nice way to die, I would say under any circumstances." comments Illyana, taking in the scene of death and destruction. "Wasn't someone supposed to be left alive to point the finger at us in the uniforms?"
Farad casts invisibility back on himself.
"One of you boys in uniform go and fetch that scimitar. Careful, it's probably hot."
"Why? Its a crude weapon at best.. or do you think it is magical?" asks Illyana.
"It didn't melt. So who knows unless we check." says Farad.
"What....crude weapon?" asks Kelar, looking agast. "Well if you think that then I won't have any competiton laying claim to it. And of course it is magical it survived that fireball where as his armor you will notice did not."
Kelar continues muttering..."crude weapon...what is she thinking it is very elegant"
Humphrey goes over and picks up the Sabre with a cloak and then goes back to drop it by Farad's voice.
Strangely enough, while you are all sure that it was glowing when the now-dead man held it, it is not glowing now.
"Shall we go and see what's left? I am sure there are some folks in the building's who survived."
Raz looks at the devastation with distaste, turns and asks, "What now? Do we make a run for it or head into town to take the head of this vampire? If we can get within casting range of the vampire, I'm pretty sure I can take him out with a spell that I have...it's call 'ploymorph other'. I still think I'd be a batter idea to run for it though."
"You dumb fool!" snorts McTavish, "Take your head out of your damned books more often! To get to where we're going we have to pass through Brach Prol, anyway! Right under the vampire's pointy nose. As to whether we stick around to take him on...that has yet to be decided."
Raz looks startled by McTavish's outburst. "Boy, what crawled up your armor this morning?", he replies with an arched eyebrow.
"I think it's fleas," McTavish replies, scratching.
Humphrey looking at what's left with a very slight frown, "Will poly morf other be effective on a creature that can change to gas and then change back to itself? Didn't know if Poly morph other could trap a shape changers shape. There is also the possibility that the vampire could resist the spell isn't there. Not counting other vampires that he or she commands?"
Raz looks thoughful as he replies, "You know...I hadn't thought of that. It would be an interesting experiment though...wouldn't it?"
You carefully move into the burning compound. The wooden buildings are all aflame, and the pallisade is burning now, too. All about you see bodies and parts of bodies. Most are burned beyond recognition. You roughly estimate that you have torched a good 500 orcs in all...males, females and children.
McTavish starts whistling.
"Good job, Raz and Farad! I'll see that my old dad gives you a medal for this!" he says, beaming, as he takes in the carnage and inhales deeply the stench of burning orc-flesh.
After walking about for fifteen minutes, you are forced back outside by the smoke and fire. You found no one alive, and, apart from the scimitar, found nothing of value in the wreckage of the fort.
McTavish looks up into the sky at the spreading smoke cloud.
"We'd best be on our way...before that attracts attention," he says.
It is approaching midmorning.
Banquo gives Raz a piece of his mind.
"Probably the fact that no matter what we say or plan you just blast away with no thought of the consequences. Umboth is gonna know now that this place was basted by a high level spell and be on guard. He's not gonna pull troops out of Brach Pol because it is obvious this is not a raiding party, Black Gate doesn't have anybody who would do this. They'll call up the ghosts and know this place wasn't even assaulted, it was expunged without breaking sweat. We were supposed to do this with a little style. Allright, anyone have any suggestions on how best to deal with this? Even if we find some live ones they'll just say they were blasted, not attacked. I propose we butcher everyone, dive past Brach Pol and blow out another post on the other side."
"No point, everyone is already dead. They can talk to the deceased? The guards did see us before the place went up.. Slight chance there, then." says Illyana.
"This will distract Umboth from this area and save some locals. We can then continue on our way with a clear conscience. Our opportunity to take Umboth unawares is gone and he will pull in all the protection he has."
"Hmm, a high level spell, eh? This means that he probably won't blame the locals, they don't have the capability to do this, correct? If we were to take out a few more outposts in totally random locations, would that help matters any? Maybe we can panic him enough so that he is too busy worried about protecting himself as opposed to killing other people. I agree though, our suprise is probably gone if word gets out."
"Your right about him not blaming the locals but he will still butcher them to find out if they know anything. If we blast a few random spots it might distract him but I can't gaurantee it."
"Idiotic. You torture someone and they will tell you anything you want to hear, not the truth. There is no way to force someone to tell the truth without resorting to magic. Of course the orcs will probably do it for the fun of it."
Illyana sniffs. "I'm surprised that armies haven't been reduced to mages lobbing destruction at each other by now. Then again, there wouldn't be much left to live off of afterwards. I doubt anyone could live here for years."
"Aye," says the dwarf. "It's the spellcasters that provide the firepower. But powerful magic users are rare...an' need lots of bodies to protect them. Imrimil keeps his under tight control. Orcs are good enough to keep the locals under control most of the time...an' obviously he doesn't feel very threatened along this border."
The dwarf pauses, and looks back at the burning orchold
"I've heard me daddy talk about Imrimil performing feats of magic like this...but on dwarves, instead."
Illyana nods sadly. "Underground in tunnels, explosions like this are extremely damaging, and there is no where you can get out of the way. We were taught that fighting a mage in crampt quarters was a bad idea."
"So how do we point the finger of blame here? Do the black guys have mages in their midst that would blow up a fort?"
"We didn't stick around in Black Gate long enough to find out, did we?"
"We know absolutely nothing, other than what the uniforms look like. I suppose if we find more orcs we can threaten them.. or start rumors in taverns. Whether or not we are believed is not something we have no control over."
"I want to be out of this area as quickly as possible, lets get moving."
You mount up and ride on.
The balance of the day's journey is uneventful...as is the night.