Looking back on the summer, I'm pretty certain I was actually the one who first proposed that the orcs get drunk and pass out and that the women plead for mercy. I felt comfortable with that for my character. Ishkur's been under intense pressure on the road for a while, having to watch his back every minute. I could see him letting his guard down for one night, especially if he felt that no one is going to return to the camp. It just doesn't strike me that most orcs are terribly disciplined.
Still, I am willing to tinker with that as long as the basic story line remains intact. I do think it's important that all the male orcs be in chains by the second day when the women plead for the men's lives. I know that
Firefoot and Undomie are already doing some planning for that.
Perhaps the story could go something like this.... Initially, there are six or seven orcs who "get away" and don't get caught by the slaves and the fellowship. In addition to Grask, Ungolt, and Undomie's sisters, this would include Gwerr, Ishkur and possibly Makdush, if
Child wants to include him. I personally would like to have Makdush since it would break down some barriers between Uruks and regular orcs. Tnat means that eight orcs would initially be rounded up....that would include six males, one female and one female "child"---all NPCs. Later that same day, the three males could try to break in and free their companions. They come close to succeeding but at the last minute are beaten back and thrown in the pen with everyone else. The fact that they tried to stage a rescue against such big odds might surprise some of the slaves and fellowship....they could have just turned tail and run away. The next monring the others will arrive and we'll folllow the outline
As far as the motive and details as to why these orcs hid and/or weren't caught in the initial haul, we can leave that up to the individual orc poster.
Would something like that work?
By the way, I think
Hilde is right about the caves and pits. In some ways, the worst thing you could do is to stake out the orc prisoners in bright sunlight in some kind of holding corrall, at least during the daytime hours. It would drive Ishkur crazy to be out there in the bright light. Maybe you can toss us into the pit that night.
Folwren I think you have a good idea. When the women make their plea to spare the other's lives, perhaps Athwen can be the first one to moved by their gesture???
Oh, yeah, about that money... Isn't there some way we could hold on to that? How closely are we going to be searched?