Hazardous Times: Chapter XII - Yet More Intrigues

[Attalus]

SIRBLANDAMOUR (Mounts Shaiann) "All right, then, let us ride. Sanael will meet us if there is any information."

[ 07-27-2002, 08:07 AM: Message edited by: Attalus ]

[Attalus]

(Meanwhile, in the Orc Camp, the orc chief Gothmog, rises and clout the little orc dancing around in the old woman's bloodstained robe, as his fellow orcs feast on her body. The camp is foul, with human skulls mounted on spikes at the gate, including the hapless old woman's partially devoured one.}
GOTHMOG (to the little orc) "Here youse, youse thinks you're funny. Well, maybe youse are. But, go to the dragon, now. Ask him how this old hag found her way into our hidden camp." (After he send the messenger, Gothmog pulls a key from his filthy jupon and goes to a door in the back of a cave. Unlocking it, he grinningly confronts the disheveled human there.) "Here, youse, lay down there. I'm feeling frisky again."

[Galadria]

OOC>> Sorry, I have not been posting much. I have been ill, but I'm better, now.
LADY ROXANNE (When the monster has done his worst, she dresses again. She is digusted and anngry but not frightened. She knows beyond doubt that she will be rescued. Her brother, Sir Blandamour, is out there, and surely seaching for her. He would make short work of these beastly orcs. Her only fear is that she might be pregnant by that brute.)

[Galadria]

LADY GALADRIA (Hugs Isaura, then looks at her with a twisted smile) "No, no, your Highness, you don't bow to me, I bow to you. But, let us do this little chore. Poor Sir Blandamour, he has been so worried about his sister.I know he fears her dead or worse."

[Ar-Cunin]

Sanael Ganahr

In the late afternoon the reat of the party catches up to Sanael leaning to a treetrunk. He abandons his resting position and walks up to meet the rest.

"I got some good news and some bad news. The good news is that I have located the orc camp - and that is the last of the good news. The bad news are that the orcs are holed up in a cave at the end of a canyon, which meant that I couldn't get close enough to get an accurate estimate of their numbers, the layout of the camp or if any of those hostages you mentioned are still alive, Sir Blandamour."

He kneels down a sketches the layout of the canyon in the ground with dagger.

"I wouldn't hold to much hope though - there were plenty of skulltotems outside the cavemouth. The access to the cave will also be a problem - they have a sentry at either side of the canyon and the only way to approch the cave is up through it. At least you can ride all the way should it be necessary."

He pauses for a moment to see if there are any comments - then contiunes.

"They are a stange lot - they are organized enough to have sentries, but I ambushed a small orc comming in this direction and I swear to you - it was wearing an old dress."

Sanael shakes his head at the memory of the small orc running past the place were he had been hiding - holding up the skirts with both hands. He had been so incredulous that it had almost reached cover before he had remembered himself and had felled it with and arrow in the back. Afterwards he had checked that he hadn't started halloucinating by walking up to the body and hiding it from sight.

"The way I see it we can either chance a direct assult with the paladins charging straight up the canyon on horseback and rely on the element of surprice - which will be chancy seeing as we don't know the size of the enemy force - or we can try to lure then out by using some kind of bait."

Finishing his little monolouge Sanael looks around.

"Does anybody else have any ideas?"

[Attalus]

OOC>> Good post! IC>>
SIR BLANDAMOUR (To Sanael) "This is news indeed! Your suggestion that we lure them out has much merit, my good elf. I have no doubt that we could kill them all in a frontal assault, but, hope against hope that some captives might remain alive, we could get them to attack us someone might slip into the camp while the fighting is going on. Would some of you women consent to act as bait, with us hidden to protect you of course. I'll pledge that no miserable orc will lay a claw upon you."

[ 07-27-2002, 03:43 PM: Message edited by: Attalus ]

[Galadria]

LADY GALADRIA(eagerly)"I shall do it my Lord. I will conceal my armor beneath my cloak and put my helmet in Gold Top's saddlebag. Then, when they attack, I shall put on my helmet and they will find that they have caught a Tartar." (looks sardonically at Eliza) "Of course, if another came with me, it would be safer, but I do not expect puny esquires to put themselves at risk."

[Galadria]

ELIZA (Blushes furiously.) "My Lady, I shall, with my good Lord's permission, be glad to accompany you. I have no fear when my Lord is around."

[Ar-Cunin]

Sanael Ganahr

Watches Galadria and Eliza bickering with an amused expression.

"Looks like we have the volunteers needed for the bait - more than two will arouse undo suspision. I think that I will try circle around the camp and take out the sentries after they have raised the alarm so the orcs won't have them to provide cover with their bows."

[ 07-27-2002, 04:49 PM: Message edited by: Ar-Cunin ]

[Attalus]

SIR BLANDAMOUR (Nods amusedly at Eliza) "Certainly, my d...I mean Squire. You and Galadria wander down that trail, seeing like you are lost. Hide your mail. We shall be just behind you. When the orcs rush you, flee back to us in seeming fright." (Looks Galadria in the eye.) "And, no playing the hero, Galadria. If you haul out that sword and start whaling them with it, they'll suspect a trap, for sure."