Murder Hobo Squad: A Lost Mine of Phandelver/Dragon of Icespire Peak & Beyond D&D 5E record (Beware Spoilers!)

As the party headed back down the hill from Old Owl Well they saw Melandrach fending off some wolves, and arrived just in time to stop him getting overwhelmed, making short work of them.  Ramond threw their bodies on the wagon to skin later.

They rode the wagon to the outskirts of Wyvern Tor and set up camp an hour or so before sunset.  Talindra sent her owl familiar to scout the area while everyone set up tents, and then Araloth and Karson went out to see if they could locate the Orcs.  With the tents set up, Bilba and Talindra got straight in the new luxury tent and made it their own before any conversation could be had over who would get the comfy bed.

Karson quickly located some orcish footprints and they followed them as far as they dared.  Once they got too busy they headed back to camp, figuring they were close to the orcish base.  They arrived back at camp as the sun was starting to set to find Ramond had skinned the wolves, dinner ready to eat, and Melandrach studying a book on Herbalism.  The group got a good night’s rest, the two women sharing the good tent, and Araloth choosing to sleep under the wagon as he’s used to roughing it.  The next morning Araloth was woken by Talindra banging some pots together by the wagon trying to make him bang his head on the wagon.  Araloth shot awake but managed to avoid his low ceiling.

With the party breakfasted, they made their way to where Karson had explored yesterday.  Thorovir had decided to stay back at camp and guard everything so as not to bring the wagon to the Orcs.  The stealthy characters went ahead, with the Owl scouting from above and they discovered a cave entrance, with two Orcs stood outside by a campfire and a third orc closer, standing watch behind a large rock.

Araloth and Talindra tried to use the terrain to sneak around the west while Bilba headed east.  Karson cast Alter Self and made himself look like an Orc.  He then headed down the worn path straight towards the cave, calling out a hello as he got closer, and offering a “suitably orcish greeting” (DM: None of us knew what that would be).  As he approached the two campfire orcs noticed him and turned to watch him approach.  Before he could reach them, the guard spotted Talindra sneaking up from the side and moved back to the camp.  In orcish, she said, “there’s someone sneaking up around the corner.  I don’t think he’s a friend”.

As Karson drew close he overheard this and shouted, “There’s a half elf over there.  They’re coming to attack you!  I am Garthok.  I’ve been sent by your boss with a warning”.  The orcs did not look convinced, and as they drew their weapons, so did Karson.  He held out his sword and let go as it turned in to a black hawk and flew forwards.  It made two attacks against the guard and tore out their throat.  Moments later Bilba unleashed an arrow from some nearby bushes killing another nearby orc.  As the party started advancing towards the cave with weapons ready, the last remaining orc retreated in to the cave.

Karson and Araloth moved to one side of the entrance while everyone else drew up from the distant rear.  Melandrach moved up to opposite the entrance to get a look inside, revealing a tunnel, but no visible Orcs.  Karson went in far enough to reveal that the Orcs were not alone.  He discovered an Ogre and a Mountain Wolf, along with more Orcs.  He stepped back in to an alcove inside the cave.  Araloth moved up to join him.  Allerted, the wolf moved up and attacked Karson.  Devere stepped up to the cave entrance and summoned a Spiritual Weapon to attack the wolf.  Ramond ran up to in front of the entrance and shouted, “Draw them out!”

Bilba moved up and fired at the wolf, before ducking back in to cover.  The Orcs then tried the same tactic, jumping out and throwing javelins at Ramond and Karson, before jumping back around a corner.  One stayed out in the open.  Melandrach stepped forward and rapid fired three Sunbolts Street Fighter style into that orc, dropping him to the floor.  Talindra finally moved far enough forward to see in to the cave and hexed and Eldritch Blasted the wolf, using her Owl to assist in all attacks.  The ogre couldn’t hold his ground any longer and stepped forward to meet his enemy, taking an attack from Araloth.  The Ogre then swung back with his club and missed (DM: Spoiler alert.  The useless Ogre misses every attack he makes!).   Karson and Araloth both stabbed the massive target in their faces, chipping away at him.  Araloth dodged out of the cave and out of his melee range.

The wolf, having been ignored, bit Karson, wounding him.  Devere cast a guiding bolt in to the ogre, and hit the wolf with his Spiritual Weapon.  Ramond put himself in the ogres face, called out, “I’ll probably need healing” and swung at him, putting all his divine energy in to the attack for a might blow while giving himself some temporary hit points.  With the party in close, the orcs charged around the corner throwing javelins and swinging axes.  The Warlock Blasted the ogre, almost ending him, but he got to swing hisclub ineffectually once more before Karson dealt the killing blow.

With the orcs bunched up in a narrow tunnel, Dever cast a Flaming Sphere behind them to act as the anvil to the party’s hammer and hit the closest with his floating flail.  Ramond dropped his greatsword and pulled out a shield and short sword, shouting, “If they’re trapped, then push”, then climbed over the ogre corpse and swinging at the same orc, which Bilba then killed with her bow.

Feeling trapped, the remaining two Orc’s disengaged and ran around the Flaming Sphere out of its reach.  Devere dropped the sphere and the party followed up, chipping away at them.  Talidra ran deep in to the chamber to attack them from behind, but revealed a particularly big and nasty Mountain Wolf at the back of the cave, who she preceded to Eldrich blast.  The Orcs did not last long, but the wolf put up a strong fight.  Everyone got a swing in, but Bilba shot an arrow straight down its throat while it was roaring, causing it to choke and cough blood over everyone, until the damage caused him to collapse dead.

Devere and Ramond advanced to explore the final chamber as everyone started looking for loot and noticed movement under some wolf pelts behind a pillar.  As Devere moved closer, asking, “Hello?  Is somebody back there?” a scared orc toddler crawled out and backed away from the group, earning an “awww” from the cleric.  Ramond instantly lost interest and wandered off to recover his greatsword.  Devere beckoned Karson over as he speaks orcish and currently is disguised as one.  They all backed off and let Karson try to talk to her, insisting they can’t just leave it.  That would be a death sentence.  Karson asked it if there were any more of its kind around here, before realising just how young the child was, realising she probably doesn’t have the words to answer.  He then asked her its name and offered her a biscuit.  She responded with “Grilda”, grabbed the biscuit and retreated away to eat it.

They spent some time trying to decide what to do with the child, while some of them searched the lair and the corpses for treasure and any signs they were connected to The Black Spider or King Groll.  Ramond thought this would be King Grolls lair, and Karson thought they were working for The Black Spider.  They found a small chest with some coins and perfume in, but nothing more.  Grilda got brave and approached Karson again, tugging on his trousers to get his attention to ask for another biscuit, which she received.  He tried to ask Grilda if she knew the name King Groll, but she just stared blankly at him.

The group said they had three options.  Leave the kid here alone, kill the kid, or take her with them.  The first two were not an option for anyone.  Talinda suggested the priestess at the shrine in Phandalin might be able to find her a home.  Melandrach suggested they find some less bad orcs to raise here.  Karson responded that they had no proof there were bad orcs, now that he thinks about it. They were just acting on the word of the townsfolk.  There were a couple of human bodies outside though.  Karson spent a short while investigating the nearby tracks and thinks all the footprints were likely made by everyone here so there was no Orcs they could take the child to.

Karson bribed the child with food and then wrapped her in a wolf pelt and picked her up, while Talindra looked for any clothes and baby supplies nearby.  They then headed back to camp for a good night’s rest before spending the next day travelling towards Agatha’s lair, which they then camped around 5 miles away from, as the sun was setting.