It was a very interesting evening with the Friday Night Roleplayers as they approached Griffinwatch. Everyone was very engaged at the table and every player contributed several ideas and actions to the session. Yet, it was also the most cautious play I have witnessed from the group who, until very recently, were the very definition of “Murder Hobos”.
Roleplaying stood tall last night, and I loved every moment!
The story picked up from the end of Episode 1…
On To Griffinwatch!
Waking around their small camp fire, the Moonspike Marauders began to execute their plan to scope out and eventually assault the Orc lair within the ruins of Griffinwatch. It had been an uneventful night in the southern reaches of the Thunder Peaks, overlooking the ruins in the valley some three miles away. As dawn broke it began to rain.
The party followed the old Dwarven road for about an hour before leaving the trail and heading cross-country with Brokki leading the way. With good use of the Dwarven Cleric’s survival skills the party made excellent time and descended into the valley within which stands Griffinwatch, arriving about four hours later. Settling behind some cover at the edge of the 500 yard clearing around the ancient fort, the group discussed their options. All seemed quiet and the ruin eerily empty.
Alberreth cast the Magnify cantrip and used it to scan the westernmost tower of Griffinwatch, spying a fire pit and the cleared floor of the ruined structure. Time passed and the party whispered in discussion, agreeing that a fire pit demonstrated the Orcs were present. Alberreth then cast Lesser Invisibility on both Thallan and Lothmyr so that this pair could go a-scouting around the ruins.
Map courtesy of Dyson Logos.
Scouting The Ruins
Lothmyr made better time with his stealthy approach to the ruins, heading for the centre of the south wall and listening carefully. The thief heard low Orcish voices in the tower towards the centre of the ruin. Contemplating the steep slopes of the scree, some 15-20 feet higher than the valley, Lothmyr realised that getting up to Griffinwatch would be difficult.
Meanwhile, heading east towards the lake, Thallan reached the wall beneath the eastern tower. With the invisibility spell helping him, the wizard worked his way northward along the east wall looking for a water access way from the lake into the fort. Looking across the crystal clear water, Thallan spotted a wide pipe running east-west just under the lake’s surface near the northernmost main building.
Leaving his staff and sword next to the wall, he waded into the water (displacing it around his invisible form) and dipped under the surface. Thallan discovered that the pipe was open, with no grille, and possibly wide enough for a human-sized being to swim through. He also noted that it runs west under the walls… and then he took an unwanted gulp of water and came spluttering to the surface. Did the Orcs on watch spot or hear him? No alarm sounded… so Thallan waded back to the shore.
By this time, Lothmyr had scouted westward to the corner, noting movement and Orcish voices in the tower. From here, he moved northward along the west wall and discovered guards at the main gateway towers in the centre.
Back at the main party, Brakka notices an Orc patrol coming along the ancient roadway from the south. There are perhaps a half-dozen Orcs. Alberreth quickly casts Lesser Invisibility on the remaining five characters in the player’s group, burning precious magic points but aiming to keep the party hidden in the valley.
Lothmyr moved north to the north-east corner, noting a crouched Orc on the tower roof looking northward, and then scouted along the north wall eastward. Looking for an easy way up, Lothmyr was rewarded by finding that the central building’s north wall was built to extend beyond the hillock upon which Griffinwatch stands. This would be a much easier climb for the thief and he made note to head back with the news.
Watching and Waiting…
The main party watched as the Orc patrol arrived at Griffinwatch. With his Magnify spell in play, Alberreth reported the patrol travelling up the causeway to the west, through the ruined gateway, and into the main courtyard. From here, he noticed the incoming Orcs plump down to rest in the yard while a second patrol almost immediately headed out.
Lothmyr and Thallan are heading back (unknown to the main group) and, as the hour ticks by, the party sees a second patrol arrive back from the north. This group of a half-dozen Orcs is carrying a large animal carcass on a long pole and disappears into the ruin.
A beat of wings and a distant screech from above has the group nervously looking at the sky. Was that a beast in the sky? The long leathery wings and sinuous body of some distant drake-like monster drifts by several hundred feet above. As the two scouts return, the party decides to withdraw and make camp for the night.
Taking Stock
Thallan spotted a useful craggy outcrop behind which to make a camp in the now pouring rain. The party was soaked through and regretting the lack of tents or winter cloaks, although the two magic-users did cast the Dry cantrip to keep themselves relatively comfortable. While initially Brakka and Alberreth stayed to watch the ruin, while Thallan leads the group south to the outcrop, eventually the party decided to head into the mountains to find a better shelter.
Brokki lead the party south, up into the Thunder Peaks for some four hours before finding a suitable small cave in which to camp. Stringing up a bedroll to cover the narrow entrance, the party lit a fire and tried to dry out. As it was dusk by the time they arrived at the cave, the group set watches and discussed what they had discovered.
Only in the middle of the night is their rest briefly disrupted. Sounds of movement outside the cave persuades Brakka (who is on watch) to rouse the rest. Dousing the fire, Lothmyr then peeked out through the covering over the cave entrance… and spotted what looks like a herd of four-legged animals (perhaps ponies?) wandering past the cave. Panic over, the group settled back to rest.
Courage Dawning
As dawn broke, Brakka asked about the wisdom of attacking Griffinwatch.
“Orcs are hard and tough, with maybe 30 or more to fight,” he said.
“Do you want to go home then, Dwarf?” asked Lothmyr, with a tone of contempt.
Glar pointed out that Griffinwatch is blocking the party’s way north to where they believe lies the Fire Citadel of the Dragon Kings. Of course, all know that Glar covets the glowing two-handed sword he saw the Orc Chief brandishing the last time he was here.
Over breakfast the party holds a long tactical discussion. At length, they agreed to assault Griffinwatch using magic and stealth. The plan was set.
Invisible Assault…
The trip down the mountain towards Griffinwatch was not as easy, despite the easing of the rain and the overcast sky providing little more than a cold wintry wind. Once again, Brokki led the party towards the Orc-infested ruin and Alberreth cast Lesser Invisibility to allow a low-risk approach. With a hand on the shoulder of the person in front, the party led out in single file. Lothmyr and Alberreth headed for the north side of Griffinwatch to climb the wall earlier discovered by the thief, while the remainder of the group assembled some 100 feet away from the front gate on the causeway. The signal would come from Lothmyr taking down the lone guard on the north-west ruined tower.
Deftly climbing the stone wall, Lothmyr eased himself onto the rubble-strewn roof of the central building on the north side. Shortly after him, Alberreth joined him – although neither could see the other to know for sure. Creeping west along the rooftop, Lothmyr stalked his prey while Alberreth took in the view from the top – noting four Orcs lounging on guard duty against the east wall of the courtyard below, three more in gateway towers, and another pair in the tower on the far south-western side.
Lothmyr struck the Orc guard from behind, taking it by surprise and allowing no time for a shout. The thief’s sword smashed down on the Orc’s head and brained him, leaving the creature to collapse unconscious. Now visible to all, Lothmyr quickly stooped to coup de grace the Orc while the party on the causeway spotted the attack and began to walk quietly towards the gate. Brokki called upon the blessing of his Ancestors to produce a Silence spell, enveloping his still invisible friends in the spell’s cloak. Alberreth moved to a better vantage for the courtyard Orcs, at the south-east edge of the building.
Suddenly, Alberreth appeared to the stunned Orcs below at the top of the building. A radiant blaze of coloured rays erupted from the outstretched arms of the Elf and engulfed them. One Orc was struck blind and three others stunned by the Colour Cascade.
Noticing a shadow fall across him, the Orc behind the tower (below Lothmyr) looks up and then runs, yelling loudly, into the courtyard. The alarm is raised! Wasting no time, Lothmyr runs along the rooftops, heading east.
Alberreth’s second move is to summon a Fireball spell, the ball of intense heat forming between his two palms as he shaped it… and then threw it down onto the bewildered Orcs below. The blinded and stunned Orcs stood no chance as flames engulfed them, burning despite their armour and worst of all leaving deep and serious wounds on their arms. None of those three warriors would be able to contemplate lifting a blade or shield, even if they were able through the searing pain of the burns they’d received. Having effectively neutralised these guards, Alberreth casts the Shield spell on himself.
The main party of heroes begins to run for the gateway, Silence surrounding them and Invisibility shielding them. As they arrive at the gates a few seconds later, they ready weapons and prepare to engage the Orcs. Lothmyr and Alberreth chase across the rooftops, heading east towards the largest and tallest building. As the main party arrives, battle is set to commence… ready for next time!
Game on!
