The EARTH story - September 1, 1372
September 1st is again sunny and mild. The morning walk is uneventful, but late in the afternoon you are suddenly showered by black arrows out of the woods from either side of the road.
Jon takes two arrows for 11 hit points of damage.
Sharone takes one arrow for 6 hit points.
Off in the dimness of the woods you see the shadowy forms of many humanoids.
"Orcs!" cries Leslie. "Ambush!"
"OWWW, that smarts!" yells Sharone. "Who's scouting this trip?"
Jon answers, "Well, not the pin cushion. Spare a cure for the injured?"
She moves to a safer location before fixing the wound she has received.
"Humph," Beth says, casting a shield spell on herself. She then takes a brief look through Raptor's eyes as her familiar circles overhead.
She has a lightning bolt ready. If enough orcs show themselves that she can catch four or more in one bolt, she'll let fly with it.
Jon dives in a bunch of imaginary snow and takes cover.
"Healer please..."
"Jon, my friend, you do seem cursed," says Mikodin quickly. "You need some clerical help, I believe. I need to train at my temple, so why don't you accompany me when I leave?"
Jon, laying flat out, replies, "Umm maybe...but thanks for the offer."
Turning to the bushes, he adds, "For now, let's attack these orcs."
Mikodin waits until the magical pyrotechnics die down, then launches himself at what he hopes is the nearest group of orcs.
Tully starts firing arrows at the orcs.
Kithus stands ready with his sword drawn and prepares to charge at the first orc that appears.
"Spellhurlers, do your thing," Al says as he unsheathes Claw and waits for the fireballs to go off. He holds his shield tight to deflect any enemy arrows.
Aron moves next to Laurie to attempt to knock aside any arrows that might hit her, or him.
Ayazin begins chanting and quickly drops an Entangle spell on the orcs. Drinor ducks behind his shield, then pulls out his crossbow and returns fire.
Aldarin immediately begins casting, firing a burst of colors into the nearest clump of shady figures, hopefully in a location different from the targets of the other spellcasters in the group.
Goodgulf begins casting a fireball and Vardui takes out his wand.
As spells go off more arrows come flying.
Tracey takes 3 hit points.
Sharone is struck for another 4.
Aron takes 4 hit points as well.
Kithus is hit for 5 hit points.
Grim takes an arrow in the arm, ruining the spell that he was casting.
Jon, invisible and hiding in the snow that melted days ago, still manages to take an arrow in the backside, for 6 hit points.
Then, all hell breaks loose, as fireballs, lightning bolts, colour sprays and ice storms engulf the enemy.
The orcs - those who survive the onslaught - are not stupid. Realising that they are outclassed, they break and run screaming, scattering into the woods.
This time Leslie does not want to go after them.
"We could spend days tracking them down, one at a time," she says. "Let's go."
"Not before those fires are put out," says Grim.
Vardui takes care of it quickly, with another shot from his wand of frost, and you move on.