"I was unaware that Asmodeus' holy tennants included any rules regarding honor in combat." Xanos said with a blank expression. "If memory serves, Article three, section two of the Monogram says "Power is only power if it is used. Arbitrary limitations to the exorcise of power are not to be tolerated."
"Admittedly it has been many years since I read the text. Translation is not always a precise art. I am sure you know far better than I"
Albrέkt stoically listens to the planning and interplay before tapping an ironed finger repeatedly against his forehead.
The fell knight hisses his frustration at the others through cracked teeth;
"Zu much talk! Ve should hasten zhese chosen from der mortal coil... Ja?"
After much scheming, you head out of town to deal with the patrol. Setting your camp in the wilderness away from the likely site of the patrols camp, you lie in wait. Eventually, you catch sight of a fire sparked in the distance and you know that your time is at hand. Waiting for the darkest hours of the night, you head down towards the unsuspecting soldiers.
Initiatives(if things go south)
19 Kaynen
19 Albrekt
18 Ember
15 Soldiers
11 Xanos
7 Vank
DC20 to hear kaynen
As you approach, you see a neatly arrayed camp laid out with three tents set up to one side of a small fire. A pair of soldiers sit around the fire.
As you get within 100ft of the camp, Kaynen steps on a dry stick and it snaps with a loud crack. One of the guards' head pops up, "Did you hear that?" The other nods, and the pair of them rise to their feet and draw their swords.
Vank will crouch down and whispers "Xanos, you got a familar? Make them believe it was an animal."
Xanos was stone faced and clearly exasperated at the ineptitude of his companions abilities at stealth. Even a hundred feet into the darkness they were still calling attention to themselves. At Vank's question he simply shook his head, knowing the hobgoblin could see him well enough.
Xanos whispered a short incantation and summoned up a horse out of smoke and darkness. Then he gave it a gentle nudge and sent it toward the firelight.
With luck they would think it was simply a lost horse coming to humans.
Xanos gave Vank and Ember a pointed nod, advising them to follow the horse into camp. Sneaking in would be easier while the guards were distracted figuring out what to do about the horse.
Albrέkt's night-gifted eyes also look toward Xanos... the wretched brute clearly hungry for combat...
Vank puts the traps down careful, the risk now too much. Then staying low he circles around a little, before starting to sneak closer again.
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Kaynen's heart leaps when he looks down at his own foot.
Wait? I made a mistake? Impossible!
Tilting his head so some stray strands of hair sway out of his sight, he sighs, inhales and does his best imitation of an owl.
"Hoot! Hoot!"
Hey! That sounded pretty good. I *am the master* of all sound.
Ember follows Vank a little behind, paying attention to what the freak is doing, and hoping the others behind wouldn’t screw things more than they already have.
At the acute sound of a hunting owl Albrέkt looks momentarily to the black sky, and then shadowed trees;
"Mmm. Und eule ist nearby...
Before turning attention back to the drama unfolding in the dark...
The guards peer into the darkness in your general direction. One turns to the other, "Whatever it is, it didn't spook the nightlife. Probably a skunk or something."
"Ya. You're probably right." The pair do a quick walk around the edge of the camp, before heading back to sit by the fire.
Combat init
19 Kaynen
19 Albrekt
18 Ember
15 Soldiers
11 Xanos
7 Vank
5 Haruk
Vank will take his time, making sure of his steps and letting the guards settle again.
Ideally he is looking for a way to be within 15 feet of them, while still being under cover. If he can't he'll look for a good clear charge line and to be as far away from the guards as he can be (upto 60ft).
Kaynen breathes a sigh of relief as the two guards return to their patrol. His smug grim of satisfaction reflects his inner thoughts.
Fools.
Patting his side, he ensures his flasks are all where they should be. He waits a moment and then continues to advance as quietly as he can towards the camp, working to keep pace with his allies.
Holding her bow, Ember creeps forward, prepared to attack the sentries when Vank gives the signal.
Albrέkt eyes the phantom steed with interest, and perhaps a hint of disappointment;
Nicht a true spectre... Alas...
The brute climbs onboard the summoned horse and awaits the signal to charge...
V: 20+12
E:21 +12
V: 20+9
E:19 +9
V: 20+7
E:19 +7
Surprise round
19 Kaynen
19 Albrekt
18 Ember
15 Soldiers
11 Xanos
7 Vank
5 Haruk
Vank will hold up his hand to Ember and count down with his fingers, at the end of which he'll cast silence on coin in his pocket (20ft radius). He'll try to do this a quietly as possible to avoid waking those sleeping. Then he'll summon his great grand father's two-handed sword to his hands. He will stay hidden for now.
Ember Waits until Vank has cast his spell and stays ready and prepared to cast another, as soon he engage the soldiers.
Albrέkt sits atop his phantasmal steed... looking increasingly more impatient.
The wretch licks at the air, disappointed not to taste the tang of blood and death upon the wind.
First, Kaynen brushes off Xanos's hand as he's stopped from taking a few steps forward.
He then sucks in his breath and almost whistles before smiling to himself.
Better not...
Vank charges the nearest soldier screaming soundlessly and brings the great sword down in a mighty blow.
power attack, charge, bless
power attack
silence 3 rounds remaining
Bless 2 minutes remaining
Shield of faith 2 minutes remaining
Charged
AC 12
Silent as death, Vank charges into the midst of the senteries, bringing his massive sword to bear. He takes one of the guards' heads off at the shoulders. Ember lets loose with a spell, but the other guard shakes free of its seductive clutches. Letting loose a silent cry, he rises to his feet, drawing his blade.
Screaming a warning that no one can hear, he ducks Vank's backstroke and swings his own sword,
but misses the mark.
Haruk launches a bolt at the guard Ember attempted to enspell [ooc] for
Things were still well in hand. The rest of the camp unaware, the lone remaining sentry facing two skilled combatants in a field of silence.
Xanos continued to wait.
Vank will take advantage of the guard's horrible swing at him to step back and to the side opening up an easy attempt to dispatch the other guard.
power attack, bless
power attack
If the guard falls he'll motion Ember towards him as he moves towards one of the tent flaps.
Albrέkt sits atop his summoned horse grim set and clearly impatient. The brute's steed stamps a spectral hoof as if detecting the fell knight's eagerness for bloodletting.
From his vantage the iron clad wretch attempts to discern what is occurring in the encampment; night eyes narrowed and licking the air for the faintest tang of blood;
:
:
Surprisingly, he has a strong mind. Ember thinks when her spell fails. She doesn’t get fazed by it, it’s natural something like that happen from time to time.
But seeing that Vank isn’t competent enough to finish the man, she put her bow to use.
The arrow flies with deadly precision and force, punching thru the man skull, leaving a whole and a dead body in its wake.
Staring with disdain towards Vank, she walks closer, stepping over the dead’s man body.
If one is close enough, one could read in her lips and in the scorn in her face.
”Pathetic.”
It’s hard to determine if she is referring to Vank or the soldier.
Surprisingly, he has a strong mind. Ember thinks when her spell fails. She doesn’t get fazed by it, it’s natural something like that happen from time to time.
Ember watches the hobgoblin while he finishes off the guard. Still she isn’t convinced.
When the hobgoblin motions her to approach, she walks closer, stepping over the dead’s man body.
If one is close enough, one could read in her lips and in the scorn in her face.
”Pathetic.”
It’s hard to determine if she is referring to Vank or the soldier.
Pulling her daggers free, she keeps ready to start killing man in their sleep.
Kaynen closes on the camp, knowing his concoctions work best when he's close, and not wanting to miss the opportunity to see the byproduct of their machinations.
"Kaynen," the wizard's magical whisper came to the half elf's ear as he began to move. "Perhaps mounting with Albrekt would be more tactically sound. The Mitrans have proven to have sharp ears."
Vank's massive sword does its vile work once again and another corpse falls to the ground. Albrekt's nostrils flare as the coppery tang of fresh blood fills the night air.
Vank sheaths the great-sword which promptly vanishes and pulls out a small curved knife. He pull up the bottom the door to the fancy tent for ember to squeeze under then follows her in.
Vank moves around the tents careful to remain quite when the silnce spell runs out he cast it again then continues killing.
At Xanos' suggestion the fell-knight breaks from his concentration and looks grimly down toward the two magick wielders;
"Nein. Death hast commen. Ve must hastzen der pazzage of der dying..."
With that Albrέkt spurs on his steed, making his way into the heart of the camp. He does not dismount merely staying in the saddle wearing a rictus smile as the guards are murdered around him.
For the first time since Vank had joined them, Ember had a good impression of the thing. At least he knew better to allow Ember the first sacrifice in the night.
Passing silently under the door of the fancy tent, the priest looks inside to find the sleeping captain. A cruel smile appears in her lips and silently as possible, the use the dagger to cut a small wound in her hand. With the blood, she draws a pentagram in her forehead and then does the same with Vank.
The woman mutters a silent prayer, while driving the knife into the man's skull.
"Accept this humble sacrifice, oh Dark Father."
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Later (just to keep us moving):
Back in town, the party puts some effort into discovering the truth, or lack thereof, regarding the purported affair between the Captain Eddarly and Captain Mott's wife. Vank sets about tailing the good wife, while Kaynen takes the opportunity break into the Mott house. Vank manages to tail the wife to a grove outside of town where he witnesses her meeting, quite passionately with Captain Eddarly. Kaynen for his part, using his keen knowledge of the female psyche, along with a great deal of luck, finds Kaitlin Mott;s diary tucked at the back of a drawer. It is packed full of the Lurid details of the affair.
Vank wipes the blood off his ancestor's knife before sheathing it and it vanishing. While the other search the camp for loot he goes to his pack and retrieves his brand and puts it in the fire. As it heats he goes to the two that were on guard and cuts off their ears stubbing them in a line onto a skewer "They had good ears, even if they didn't know what to do them them. Anyone want one?" He asks as he lowers them over the edge of the fire to cook.
With the brand hot he'll methodically go to each of the patrol that he personally killed, part their shirt and brand them in the middle of their chest. He mutters in goblin all the time and the mark that remains is the clenched fist clutching a lightning bolt that is the symbol of the Stormfist Clan. Vank makes sure not to mark any of the bodies that Ember killed or sacrificed.
His duty done he brightens up "We did well, some of these humans look strong and skilled, almost a shame we didn't get to fight them sword to sword, almost a shame." Chewing on the now cooked ears he asks "The captain was probably most skilled, who will join me in tasting his strength and skill?" drawing his dagger he moves towards the captain to butcher his corpse.
"Well they are certainly intimate. I think it would be best to have the good captain Mott find them in the act, maybe after a little priming to do something violent, that way both of the other captains will be out of the way. Xanos you can read their minds and know when they next plan to couple. Then all we need to do is come up with a way of feeding that information in the best way to Captain Mott." Vank looks around for ideas from the other.
"Why not simply deliver the journal straight to his hands? Bookmarks to highlight the relevant passages should be sufficient."
Albrέkt savours the tang of death that fills the air. He watches silently as the others finish off the mortals and send them to the Pallid Princess' cold embrace.
When the hobgoblin skewers, cooks and offers the ears of the fallen the brutal wretch declines with a crack toothed smile;
"Nein, danke. Myn preferenz izt der blut Ja?"
As Vank butchers the Captain's body Albrέkt leans over and inserts an long finger inside the carved corpse, before licking it clean of the blood...
"Ja. He vill taste gud.."
"Perhapz your Innkeep Fraulin Thorn? Ist he nicht well zuited to exzekute our plan?"
After scanning the most recent entries, Kaynen replaces the diary in the drawer, knowing he has full access to the book should he desire to hold it again.
"My dear friends, I do think we should arrange a meeting with the captain, perhaps I could recommend a suitable location? It would be best if inebriation were involved on the captain's part, so that his judgement was compromised and his... emotions get the best of him?"
Albrέkt listens to Kaynen's thoughts as he sharpens his scythe;
"Ja. Und perhapz ve kud force Der Kaptain into ein honour duell?
"I believe we are over complicating this. Adultry is illegal under Mitran law. It is enough that the journal verifies the affair. They do not need to be caught red handed. All that is necessary is for Captain Mott to be made aware of the journal. Delivering it to the Garrison will set things in motion. Mitran ideals of honor and the sanctity of marriage will do the rest. At the very least we rid ourselves of another captain. If Mott is the sort prone to vengeance, we may be rid of them both."
Haruk ponders Xanos' words "While I agree that is likely a solid course of action, I do believe we might want to do all we can to make sure this journal causes the most chaos possible." The Infernalist offers.
Ember looks at the display of savagery and even if she maintains a straight face, she approve of Vank’s actions.
He was but a beast, and acting like one was something she could understand and relate to. And there’s no sarcasm when she says ”I’ll pass, but enjoy your meal.”
She goes about testing the captain’s weapons and bow and sighs exasperated when the curvature and drawing is too heavy for her.
”It’s a marvelous weapon, but I lack the brute strength necessary to wield it properly. It was made for someone with stronger arms than me. I’d say we bury it, at least for now, away from this place.”
”We should make sure the captain discover it when he is surrounded by others. The rage and the shame might compel him to do something that he otherwise wouldn’t.”
Vank smiles "Maybe this trope of actors that are due soon could be tricked into reading from it. I can't think of much more public than that."