Out of Character Chat

[Sir Bedivere]

Maybe I missed something, but I think Grumm only has 5 hp, Arven 7, and Shybolt 10. Arven's out of healing, and Timorel gets one shot at Sleep.

These trogs regularly do 5 or so hp damage when they hit, and they usually hit, and they have a bonus to surprise us, so just walking forward w/ no plan as we have been seems somewhat suicidal. So, Timorel suggested a sneaky plan; maybe it's a bad one. I don't know. Maybe I've misread this or can't add, so I'm having Timorel act inappropriately. Am I missing something?

[Sir Bedivere]

Also, sorry if Timorel's sarcasm was a bit thick. Shybolt's reply ("Master Grumm has requested the honor of announcing his presence with authority. I have granted that to him. If he should choose to do otherwise i would of course scout ahead.") was pretty heavy with sarcasm as well, it seemed, and while Timorel wouldn't hesitate to run from a pack of trogs, he would die before fleeing a battle of sarcasm with anyone. After all, he's got the reputation of elven wizards everywhere to uphold!

[Hywaywolf]

I don't know what the plan is either. I lead us down several times before and I got the idea that Stater wanted to lead on this trip down. As a PC I would always go with the thief sneaking down the hall checking every corner and crevasse, but as a player I understand someone wanting to take a more active role from time to time. So until Stater chooses to give up the lead I won't be pushing for it.

BTW, 'announce his presence with authority" was a joke reference to the movie Bull Durham. A very talented but young and pitcher never wanting to do anything but throw the heat.

[Sir Bedivere]

I didn't see 'Bull Durham.' Is it a good movie?

[jstater]

I was just trying to stay up front to soak up damage. Perhaps retreat is the way to go.

[Sir Bedivere]

Retreat's one option. We could take advantage of another couple healing spells.

However, if we want to press on, I think drawing the main body of the trogs into a Sleep ambush is our best chance. The way to draw them into an ambush would be for Shybolt to sneak ahead and find them, then draw them back to an ambush the rest of us have prepared. If there's a long way ahead, Shybolt could come back and tell the group to move forward and set up a new ambush point closer to the trog HQ or whatever, but that's the basic idea.

It's pretty risky for everyone, Shybolt most of all, but if he draws a dozen trogs in and the Sleep spell only knocks half of them down, we're probably all dead. Plus, there'll be a leader of some kind.

Of course, the main trog village might be right around that corner and Timorel could hit the lot of them with Sleep. I don't know. I just think we need to scout ahead and find out before the trogs realize we're here.

What do you guys think?

[Hywaywolf]

Like I said, I think its the thief's job to scout ahead then get behind the big uglies when he finds trouble. But shybolt is nearly as good a fighter as anyone else in the party so I've been playing him both as a scout and a fighter, which often hogs all the action. I don't mind letting others in front if they want to be there, but I agree with you that sense I got that last heal spell I might be able to withstand a first attack if I run into anything in front.

[jstater]

As great as it would be to rescue these folks, I don't think it's worth killing ourselves over. I would say retreat is the best option - we might just have to wear the trogs down. I highly doubt every trog we get into the sleep spell is going to fail their save, and as weak as we are even a couple could kill one or two of us. Grumm doesn't want to be that one. He's a mercenary, not a hero.

[Sir Bedivere]

Yeah, retreat works for me as well. Would Grumm or Arven like to knock some sense into Timorel and Shybolt, or should those two come to their senses on their own and kiss and make up?

[Hywaywolf]

hey, don't need to knock sense in to me. I wanted to go the other way, remember.

I am good with retreating, but shybolt will never retreat without at least looking around the next corner.