October 26, 2007 at 1:56pmDungeons and Dragons Campaign

Last night we started out 3.5 Edition Dungeons and Dragons Campaign. There were seven players that showed up and we made all first level characters.
 
The following story is from the viewpoint of one of the fighters in the group, Starl Rankalbur of Waterdeep:
 
As I looked back to see how far the orcs have lapsed behind I almost lost my balance and fell from the wagon - wincing as the wheel all but exploded from the jarring it has taken moving at these speeds. I grabbed onto the handle and swung out over the side of the wagon to get a better look. I noticed several rungs were cracking from the heavy wagon having hit so many rocks, and I grew concerned with how I was going to free myself from the wreckage if we crashed.
 
I felt the spear more than saw it as I looked up... the haft brushing past my shoulder. The orcs were falling behind but were obviously still within range. 50 or so of the beasts had been harrasing our trail for almost three days now, offering our horses very little rest. Every time we stop for hasty repairs and a breather, they seemed to come from no where.
 
So far only two of our caravan had been injured, and our archers kept them at bay. I could only wish that I had saved up money for that crossbow I had been eying for the last couple of months. "Oh well" I sighed to myself and swung back up to the wagon seat.
 
...that was almost a day ago... it's now dark and we have been prisoners since the orcs attacked late last night. My companions consist of a paladin, a monk, a druid and his badger... that has been hiding off in the woods. We are nearly naked, bound hand and foot and gagged for good measure. My stomach growls, but I am not sure if it's from being hungry or from the kicks that the orcs delivered to me when I tried to resist my captors.
 
... it's dark now, and I have been flexing my forearms and straining at the ropes for what feels like hours. The ropes have cut deep into my wrists and I am about to give up when my right wrist suddenly comes free. I quickly untie my other hand and signal to the other captives that I broke my bonds. As I am about to reach over to untie my ankles, a familiar voice whispers in my ear...
 
"Don't be startled" says the rogue "four of us have followed you to free you from the orcs. Here, take my dagger and be ready to act. I am going to get the others loose."
 
There is no sound as he makes his way to the druid next to me and then on to the paladin. I do notice that the monk has passed out from the loss of blood and battle wounds... or maybe he is only sleeping.
 
The rogue hides behind the paladin for a few seconds. 'Must be planning his next move' I think to myself. I hold the dagger in my hands and try to get some circulation back into my legs - we are going to have to flee or attack sooner or later. Sweat drips down my back as I try to not draw the attention of the two orcs still walking around the fire.
 
I could cut the anticipation with a knife as the seconds seem to be hours... ready for whatever happens next...
 
"Hey! Do you think that you can wake him up?!?" the paladin whispers to - which in this quiet feels like alarm bells going off in my head. The orc must have thought so too and does a double take as he sees that the paladin is free from bondage. All craziness breaks loose as the camp seems to explode with activity. I spring to attack the nearest orc...

Edited February 15, 2008 at 10:26am by Kristian Bezeau

February 15, 2008 at 10:49amRE: Dungeons and Dragons Campaign

Without thinking I flung my ropes into the face of the orc guard - now coming our way, axe in hand. He is startled giving me time to leap upon him - knocking him to the ground.
 
"Rarrgg!" he can barely gurgle as me knee presses into his neck, cutting off his air and causing him to black out. Now I have his axe in hand and stand to attack my captors.
 
The leader of the orcs stands accross the fire and shouts to the entire camp in orcish... something I never learned. As the paladin and other prisoners rush to attack the remaining guard and grab some weapons from still sleeping orcs I jump through the fire at the leader.
 
He clearly was not expecting this move on my part and has no time to duck the swing of my axe. Unfortunatly, at the last second I stepped on a bedroll and missed my mark, grazing the orc on the shoulder. He brings his axe to bear and swings back and forth in front of him causing me to back up or be shorn in two. I come at him again, but this time he is ready and catches my swing with his own axe then throws an elbow at my face.
 
I can feel the crunch of bone as my nose shatters... blood splattering the front of my tunic. My eyes tear up, but I swing blindly anyway. The leader easily steps back from my wild but powerful swing - and I score a lucky hit on an orc that was coming up from my side... catching him in the neck and putting him out of the fight (for good I hope).
 
I don't have much time to think on it as the leader leaps at me knocking me back into the fire. "Buahhh!" I roll with the energy from his push and ignore the smell of my burnt hair and end up on the ground opposite the fire from the orc leader. He quickly advances to take advantage of my situation and I prepare myself for the blow to come... and most likely my death. All I wanted was to see Silverymoon... the birthplace of my mother...
 
I keep my eyes locked on those of the orcs... my weapon too far to reach in time...
 
...the eyes and face of the orc leader seems to shift from menacing visage of death to one of surprise... then disbelief. I look down to see the tip of the rogue's shortsword sticking out the front of the orc's chest. He peers around the orc with a slight nod as the now dead body of my would-be killer slumps to the ground.
 
No time for thanks... I roll to grab my axe and the rogue is gone again. "I owe you one" I mumble to myself as another orc enters the battle, roused from his slumber. This one only has a dagger in his hand...