(081) Journeymen Returned

[mgtremaine]

Ways do I get a roll on Magic-User level 3 to see if it beats Figher lvl 4 for HP? Long odds I know

[mushgnome]

While he is patrolling on alert for returning ogres and other hazards, Invisible Highbough is also scanning the landscape for game tracks, fishing holes, edible plants, and other food sources.

[waysoftheearth]

Ways do I get a roll on Magic-User level 3 to see if it beats Figher lvl 4 for HP?

That's true, but even if I rolled 2d6=12 your adjusted total would be 10, which is less than your current 11

[waysoftheearth]

Dorgan marks a ridge about 50 or so yards off and, after a considered survey of the surrounds, decides it's the nearest vantage. He signals his destination to Wen--who knows where the mercurial older Elf has got to; and frankly what Dwarf cares?--before setting off for the short hike. It's rocky terrain, and steep in places, but nothing a Dwarf Armiger can't manage.

It doesn't take a quarter hour before Dorgan gets his boots atop the ridge and casts his eyes about. It's a different perspective from up here, fer sure. The abandoned cave is below him, to the north-east. The bridge is further east, and the abbey lies out of sight somewhere to the south-east. Across the other side of the ridge, about 80 yards or so to the south-west, Dorgan sees a part of what might be a crude timber stockade around a plateau sheltering behind the slope of the ridge he's on. He don't doubt for a moment that it must be an alternate entrance to the same cave complex... he don't see anybody, or anything, moving about down there, but he doesn't exactly have a commanding line of sight.

[sully]

Dorgan returns to the cave entrance, taking more care to remain unseen as he does so.

He waits for Wen to show up and then tells him of what he's found.

We should head there, careful-like. Looks like our new front door.

[mushgnome]

If Invisible Highbough finds nothing on his patrol then he will return to his friends. He trusts they will leave chalk-markings showing the direction if they move on from the ogre cave.

[waysoftheearth]

While the crotchety dwarf wanders off on some unlikely errand, Invisible Highbough makes himself useful searching for signs of local water, animal life, and edible plant material.

He is distracted, for a time, by the intriguing movements of a long trail of marching ants. They are not edible, of course, but he eventually traces them 30 or so yards downslope to a small, disused beehive wedged in a crack in the rocks at about waist height. The industry of the tiny ants, each biting off a tiny piece of the hardened honey comb, is utterly fascinating to the old Elf. He is almost annoyed when the dwarf disturbs his study by inconveniently returning from whatever venture he was about...

[sully]

Dorgan gives Wen time enough to draw some chalk marks, if he pleases, and then heads out for the stockade.

Ain't got no time ta waste for some flighty elf, he thinks.

[mushgnome]

Highbough steps on an unsuspecting ant and watches it squirm beneath his invisible foot. The old Elf brushes a crumb from his sleeve to compensate the colony for the lost worker. The hive mind will not mourn the individual ant. Highough eventually grows bored and wanders back to the cave.

[waysoftheearth]

How do our trio wish to approach the stockade?

They could attempt to clamber along the ridge-top, and then drop down into the clearing behind the walls (possibly a risky climb).
They could attempt to circle around to the front and approach along the path.
They could attempt to circle around, but then off-road it and approach the stockade from either flank.
They could hatch some entirely different plan....