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Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 Play By Post Game - Page 18

The travel is slow and ponderous and the nights are long with posted watches to make sure the caravan is secure. The second day is filled with rain and fog with the third day cool and very windy. The fourth day you wake up to clear skys and the wind having blown itself out. It seems like it is going to be a good day. That is when you hear the distant sounds of drums. At first they could barely be heard but they seem to be getting closer. As you listen you make a determination that they are coming from the north and west.

What are your actions?

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The party urges the caravan to speed up some. You listen to the sounds of the drums as they get even closer. You can now hear that there are three different drums drumming. One is coming from behind you, one is coming from in front of you and another one is coming from the North and West.

Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 Play By Post Game Archive Pathfinder / D&D

The action you have taken and the actions of the drums will take a little bit for me to work out. I will have a update for you soon.

Page 18 Game Post Play Dragons and Dungeons

You urge the caravans to keep heading south which they do. The caravan drivers do not have any ranged weapons this is why they hire guards. The drivers do have a dagger but they are not very good at using them. These men are just drivers and not fighters. (Just your run of the mill zero level NPCs.)

After about half an hour the drums stop suddenly. The quiet that takes over the forest is eerie. Suddenly the head wagon calls for a stop and points ahead. Looking you see three orcs on horseback. One is carrying a large axe. HE is dressed in what looks to be full plate armor. HE is the middle rider and he is a rather large Orc. On each side of him is two more powerful looking orcs. Each one has a bow and has it drawn. On a unheard command the one on the big orcs right fires a arrow. The arrows arcs up and falls just short of the caravan. You can see a note tied to it.

Once you retrieve the note it simply says. "Lay down your weapons and move to the side and we will spare you. IF a battle is what you seek we will give it to you. We will wait a half hour and if you have not moved to the side we will attack."

Once the Orc sees that you have read the note he will nod in your direction and move down the road well out of bow range.

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The Orcs appear to talk to each other and you see the two at the side turn to talk to someone or something that you can not see in the tree line.

Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 Play By Post Game

Eth moves a bit in front of the caravan and casts obscuring mists as others try to start the surrounding forest on fire. The forest is not too dry so starting fires is not easy. You do manage to get a small blaze going but it is not moving very much or very quickly. The oil you spread across the north path will soon die out. As you begin to move south slowly you hear Orcs moving about in the woods but can not see them due to the mists. You then hear a womans voice bark out a command and moments later you feel a gust of wind coming from directly south of you pushing the mists away. This wind also puts out the flames that were beginning to start the forest on fire. As the mists part you see a few orcs lined across the road with bows at the ready. As soon as they can clearly see you they let loose a volley of arrows. It will take three more rounds before they release and you can really see them clearly.

Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 Play Post Game - Page 18

For those in the village:

The day begins with rain. A hard pouring rain that makes everything wet and muddy. Ones attempt at walking down the street is a challenge in of itself. Many merchants have yet to open their shops many in the village square have yet to arrive to sale their wares if they come at all. Meeting in front of the tavern you you both huddle under the narrow porch. Looking in all directions you can see hardly anything besides water coming down. You venture out into the rain looking for something that can pass your time as you wait. Ahead you see a merchant having trouble with his wagon and horses. Do you wish to help him?

Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 Play Post Game D&D / Pathfinder Archive - Page 18

As the mists become more cleared away by the gust of wind Eth moves a bit and plants start to entangle the feet of the orcs that are around the line of archers. The orcs bark out as they are working to try and get free of the entangling plants. The orc leaders move farther back out of the line of the entangling plants. The lead orc barks out some commands as the orcs work on freeing their comrades.

As the orcs seem to forget about the party members as they work to fee their brothers the party is able to move forward. The party is able to close within melee range before the orcs notice that you have closed the distance to them.

The party has a free round of melee against the orcs if they do not fire ranged weapons until the melee warriors are ready to attack via melee fight. IF the party chooses to lose range weapons before closing let me know and I will post what happens.