The faerie dragon then adds for all to hear as he jumps on the table: "Oh! And four watchmen are standing watch in a dark corner, keeping an eye on this place. I got closer. Apparently, one of them thinks that one of you has found a diamond mine or something and would profit from sharing..." He points to all of you with a small claw as he speaks.
Kriger grins at Kalsgrim's words. "For the record, I would not be opposed to hacking my way through every one of these bums who get in our way." He winks. He then looks to Merten, "A hill giant, you say? Ohhhhhhh man this is gonna be some fun cuttin' that big fella down to size!" A wild eyed look upon him as he speaks. After thinking on it for a moment longer, "Or possibly die trying." He shrugs. "But if you don't try you can't have any fun! HA! HA!"
Languid until hearing the words of the faerie dragon Raveneau's interest is piqued "Four alone and watching us now?" and if affirmation is given "Surely there is the wedge to drive, of four at least one should talk further... or at least yield cloth to garb that would draw less questions." a glance towards his scabbarded blade "Shall we dance with them a while?"
A wry grin forms at the elf's words. "Now THAT'S a language I can understand. The elf has it right: we take down three of 'em, and the fourth one talks." He cracks his knuckles. "Sounds like a plan to me. All we need to know now is which dark corner."
Merten's ears perk up and a brief flash of excitement crosses his normally placid countenance. Wait, have you found a diamond mine? If so, we should discuss my rates! No sooner are the words out of his mouth then Luca nips his hand hard between his teeth. Ah! Well, maybe we can talk about that later... Merten shakes off the pain of his bite and returns to the task at hand. Luca, if you are quite finished maiming me, perhaps you would be so kind as to tell us exactly where this darkened corner and the guards within are, and then we should know where the inn, the Erastitilian temple and the fort are... Actually, why don't you just create a simple map of the town for us with notable sites labeled and we'll go from there.
Also, anything Merten might know about Giants, the town, Drelev, the local region, etc.
"Yes, we should deal with them. Nothing should disturb our plans."
I rise and check my gear.
Oh, and what exactly do you mean this place is dead and dying?
Luca produces a crude map which shows that the four men are just around the corner from the Velvet Underground, in a dark recess almost directly in front of the shop. It looks like 100 feet separate the door from their spot.
Drelev is the main settlement of the barony led by the former Maegar now Baron, Hannis Drelev. He married well, to Pavetta Stroon, a rich and politically savvy low nobility from Brevoy. This area has long been a haven for bandits, until Brevoy sponsored expeditions to tame the land and establish smaller kingdom, an enterprise frowned upon by the Lords of the River Kingdom, who see this land as theirs.
Hill giants are towering brutes of frightening strength, heartless selfishness, and alarming stupidity. Dwelling in the temperate, rolling regions that give them their name, hill giants prove a constant menace to hillside communities, which suffer the brunt of the monstrous giants' unswayable brutality. Though hill giants raid primarily for food and resources, their depredations are not without a sizeable share of entirely extraneous, meaningless destruction, often as a result of their voracious appetite for mayhem and their insatiable bloodlust. For though they are dull-witted, hill giants are still smart enough to derive pleasure from chaos, and their overwhelming greed and ravenous hunger ensure that as long as there is something within reach that can be smashed, stolen, or eaten, a hill giant will gladly deliver such services.
Luca answers your question: [b]"Oh, just a feeling I have. Abandoned buildings, frightened people, barbarians acting as militia. Something here is almost darker than in the last hellhole where you landed us...
Shrugging his shoulders Raveneau sweeps into a standing position and re-belts his scabbarded blade. Curious more than anything he takes a passive position and waits to have his role requested of him rather than dictate.
Looking at the map, "Good. Looks like we've got our information waitin' on us. Let's get to work." Kriger pulls out his axe, a gleam in his eye. "Now, the next question is: How do you want us to handle this, Kals? I know you don't want blood pouring like rain, but it may have to get a little messy. There's only four of them, so it shouldn't be a problem. But, if you prefer there to be little blood, I believe that can be managed." He grins, an idea coming to mind.
I shake my head, "I prayed for spells to aid us in combat. But, if we have time, I could ask The Redeeming Fire for other magic.
Quietly? Well, not exactly, but I could veil all of us so that we could approach sight unseen. A mist might work, or a potent invisibility, although it might be better to save that for the fortress itself. They still might notice the door opening though. Is there a back way out of this place? Merten's face expresses a mixture of indecision and approbation as he mentally checks over his options. I could do with a bit of time at my grimoire as well. I had not planned to assault a fortress today. Also, I must have a word with Satinder before we leave here.
Kalsgrim and Malaswyn recall coming in through a back door leadi g to a back alley.
Smirking "Bombastic and theatrical I can manage... quiet and easy is not usually my chosen path."
Merten nods in agreement. After a brief mental consultation, Luca leaves once more. He will keep watch on these four from the roof and alert us if anything changes, or more guardsmen wander by. If you will excuse me, I will speak to our hostess and see if we might impose on her a bit longer.
He stands, and giving a quick bow, sets off to find Satinder.
Merten returns to the others and begins to study his spellbook.
About an hour later, Merten closes his spellbook and replaces it in his handy haversack. He dons a small, elf-steel buckler, loads his crossbow, and hangs a variety of potions and phials on a bandolier across his chest. He checks the scroll cases on his left hip and the scroll boxes on his right, then covers himself with magical armor.
Certainly. Merten picks up one of the candles lighting the private room and studies the flame for a moment. A quick spell will turn this tiny candle into a choking haze of smoke. We can sneak around the back, while Luca drops it amid these guardsmen. As they emerge, they should be in a weakened state and easy to manage. He shrugs, Or, if you'd prefer, I could simply turn us all invisible and we can walk right past them.
"They were. I'm right here, by the way... My Lord Kalsgrim." says Luca, looking offended.
Luca! Merten exclaims, arching an eyebrow. Didn't I ask you to keep watch on those guardsmen from the roof? Well, I don't know why I should have expected that you would. You always go your own way, which is probably a good thing. It's kept us out of scrapes before. Returning to the subject at hand, Merten turns back to Kalsgrim. I can keep us invisible for ten minutes, your lordship, and patting his scroll case and if things go south, you can count on me for five more minutes after that.
"You meant now!? Ok then..." says the familiar and takes off for the roof, mumbling to himself.
"My powers are not of the stealthy kind."
A bit of divine silence might not be amiss if we decide to attack our minders.
Our presence here is already known, Lord Kalsgrim. They already know we are here. They do not yet know our intentions. Merten sizes up Kalsgrim, Malaswyn, Kriger and Raveneau. If we strike quickly, we can overwhelm these guardsmen and move on before help can arrive. I would recommend a swift and decisive strike, followed by a stealthy approach towards the fortress.
"If it involves taking these guards out, I'm all for it. And I really like the part about 'seeking out the instigators'. That's my favorite." He grins, nodding. "Sounds good to me, Chief. Let's make it happen."
"Sarenrae provides. I will call forth a silence.
Once the others are ready, Merten summons Luca back to the back door and hands him a scroll of haste. When the battle begins, please cast this on Kalsgrim, Kriger, Malaswyn, Raveneau and myself.
"As you instruct, Raveneau will follow" intending to lag back with the others before using the speed of his dance to close the gap with rapidity and strike.
You sneak your way behind the Velvet Underground and up a narrow alley the returns to the main street.
Across the street, a mere 40 feet away, is the other alley where Luca had spotted the four watchmen. From your vantage point, you can only see one, who seems to keep an eye on the front door and doesn't look like he has spotted you.
Drawing his blade and letting it hang lightly from his hand Raveneau does not yet speak, instead waiting for Malaswyn to conjure arcane silence before calling upon his own art to bolster his reactions and agility. Resting catlike on his toes, he awaits the onset of the fray...
Once battle is joined, the elf strives to be at the fore of the assault, using his skill at the dance to outstrip the steps of his companions and position himself behind the guardsman. Spinning upon his heels as soons as he passes the man, his slender blade aims low for the guardsman's thigh...
If AoO provoked, AC is 31 vs the attack.
Agile Shortsword: for
Not wishing to disrupt others casting, I cast silence on a rock/object under the men's feet.
Then I raise my bow and begin firing at the nearest foe.
I thought there were four of them, Merten whispers. Where are the other three?
Merten gives the hand signal and disappears from view.
Merten casts vanish.
Merten moves forward behind Raveneau and Kriger, and keep his eyes peeled for the other three guardsmen.
For his part, Luca reads off Merten's scroll of haste. Merten, Raveneau, Kalsgrim, Malaswyn and Kriger feel arcane vitality coursing through them.
The tiny dragon then flies upward, surveying the area from a vantage point.