Samirah looks even more embarrassed for just a moment before bursting into laughter. "I guess I could have explained what it was for a little better. Definitely not to hide scent; it was a scent that reminded me of you. The others got one as well," she explains, attempting to diffuse any awkward feelings. "I managed to find an alchemist of sorts and spent a day playing in his shop." She forgets to sign most of her explanation, and her cheeks are still dark.
Oh. Roshan still looks slightly confused, he takes another sniff, raises an eyebrow, thinks for a few moments and nods as much to himself as anyone else. Yes, I can see how this could be me. Thank you, Samirah.
She's lost in quiet thoughts for the rest of the walk back to the camp.
Samirah's eyebrows raise. "Don't let my size fool you... I'm always hungry." She reaches up and runs her finger across his lower lip. "But I'd hate to wear you out."
"And if I am hungry as well?" he asks, a slight lilt in his voice. He does not wait for an answer. Instead, he lifts her bodily upward, kissing her breasts and belly as they pass. Then with a quick reposition, he puts her thighs on the opposite sides of his face.
She feels him, like a cool mountain breeze, between her legs. Teasing right now with cold and wind.
"The village is... empty." Samirah begins once the scouting group rejoins the others. "Pretty typical of war visiting a place that isn't prepared for it. Bodies, burned homes, rats." At this, she makes a little bit of a face. "Anevia suggested that someone burn the bodies to ensure they do not rise again." At this, she looks down at her hands.
"I suppose I could have done that, but I wouldn't have known what to say." She shrugs. "Also, we discovered that my necklace burns when near the evidence of demons! So if we don't see them attempting to eat us, I may be able to give a bit of a warning first." Her enthusiasm sounds slightly more dampened than usual.
The destruction of Valas's Gift is sobering news to the crusader army, leaving the night well-ordered by quiet. The size of the force keeps the mundane horrors away and the night passes peacefully.
The next two days are a blur of hard road travel, when the army encamps you see the watchfires from Vilareth's Ford as distinct glimmers to the northwest. The next day the sky is thick with storm clouds, giving the day a gloom as it threatens rain. Pushing the road, since staying in the ford town means less set-up is needed, the gloom has darken as Anevia rides back towards the main body of the army.
She reins her horse next to where Konstantin rides, face grim. "Vilareth Ford has been taken by an army of tiefling's, Konstantin."
"Probably within the past day," just the slightest pause, "the victory decorations were... fresh."
"There is a chance they still have prisoners but I didn't want to risk getting that closer without warning you. Most of the army is camped in the field we had been planning on using."
Irabeth, who had fallen back a bit with Anevia's approach, straightens. "Numbers, love?"
"About two-to-one in their favor," is Anevia's quick response.
And the attention of the army focuses on the leaders of this expedition.
She feels first his tongue, tickling, then, growing bolder, beginning to explore. He opens her like a flower, and with every moment, more of his mouth is upon her. At turns, his tongue teases her button, her petals, then it is inside her, lewdly moving in and out. If she looks down at him, she finds that his eyes are shut, as though he cannot be distracted from this most important of tasks.
Konstantin considers the news carefully. "What do you believe their reaction would be to bait? Could we draw them out to an ambush?"
She frowns slightly. "I find that the more power I gain, the more I want to use it to ensure no one has to face something like this without hope that someone might help them." After this admission, she looks slightly embarrassed.
"I'd be happy to be the bait!" Samirah offers cheerfully.
Her breath quickens, and as he pleasures her, the evidence of her arousal becomes more obvious in the occasional twitch of muscle against his cheek, in the increasing wetness as he slides his tongue in and out of her.
Konstantin considers the news carefully. "What do you believe their reaction would be to bait? Could we draw them out to an ambush?"
"I'd be happy to be the bait!" Samirah offers cheerfully.
Irabeth considers, "We could draw them out, at least so they have more of a flank to attack." She motions to Gore, who rides over, "The company are expert flankers."
She motions to Samirah, "By yourself, you won't draw out enough of the army, only a few stranglers who think... who think the things evil people do about lone woman in battlefields."
Anevia hops down sketching a rough map of the area. The fort, "Whatever commanders they have are probably there," her tone apologizing for the imprecise intelligence even though she doesn't give voice to it.
Politely, "I'd normally prefer just trying to surround, but that's because balancing a good bait often means you'll be sacrificing those people." He meets Konstantin's eyes, "If they were sent in with you and your people, I think it is more likely we would be able to pull of the feint without sacrificing lives for it."
"Delightful!" Nurah chimes in, "Although I'm more useful with the bulk of the army, if people can't hear me then my magic won't work on them." Clearly placing herself in the 'not-bait' camp.
Irabeth, "If we are going to do a flanking maneuver, we'd want strong command on both sides, which would normally fall to Gore and myself."
"I doubt that such a pitable small army has spellcasting resources, so I'd be happy to add to your small force or the larger army, Konstantin." Aravashnial says.
You hear a voice, the words too quiet to make out then, as Aron is herded closer to the discussion, "Tactics would indicate the commanders in a place of safety. Even if the army," he motions to Aneiva with a polite 'yes I was listening', "is comprised primarily of tieflings, it is likely there is a demon in charge."
With some effort Aron turns to address Konstantin, "If your group does act as a feint to draw out the army, once that is completed, it might be worthwhile to find the commanders before the tide of battle is determined. Demons aren't known for sticking around to save their subordinates."
Anevia doesn't smile, but there is a lightness in her eyes, "I'd much rather have a world where the people with more power than me feel that way."
Pan jumps to her feet at Samirah's approach, very quickly reaching down to snag the small personal bag of her gear, as she bows her head, "Of course." There is just the slightest trail in her words as if she was trying to find the right title to add to her assent but failed.
Konstantin looks at the layout. "I am no tactician, so perhaps this plan is stupid and we should look to the direct attack. My Irrisani brothers would laugh at me for attempting one of the southern tricks of war... yet... yet perhaps there is a weakness here."
He furrows his brow at the map in the dirt. "A small force of elites could cross the river and attempt to infiltrate the fort from the rear. Attack the generals of the army directly. Then when they call for help, the tieflings will turn about and attempt to return to the fort. When this happens, the bulk of our forces ride out from hiding and take them from the rear."
He looks to Irabeth. "Is this advisable? Is it even feasible?"
"Well, you have us! And now we can go about the business of removing the people with power who do not feel that way." She grins.
Samirah doesn't lead them very far away; just far enough that they have some semblance of privacy without losing sight of their camp. She pulls forth a small vial of liquid to hand to the tiefling.
"I don't know you very well," she admits. "Konstantin speaks well of you, and the fact that you left your life behind to try and start fresh is something I respect." She looks slightly uncomfortable. "I made something like this for the others." Then she smiles, and the smile is warm.
The scent is, first and foremost, bread, fresh from the oven and reminiscent of a cozy homestead. Underneath that, there's something like cinnamon and honey, and a brief note of something darker, some flower that only blooms in the middle of the night when no one is looking.
He looks to Irabeth. "Is this advisable? Is it even feasible?"
She nods. "Very feasible."
Aron comments, "It has the added benefit of distracted their commander during the fight, which can only be to our advantage." Then when notices people are looking at him, he takes a half-step back, "I think."
She motions to Samirah, "By yourself, you won't draw out enough of the army, only a few stranglers who think... who think the things evil people do about lone woman in battlefields."
Samirah's face darkens. "And I would slaughter every one of them."
She lets the rest of the discussion play out, content to let Konstantin and the others figure out logistics of where to send her and her scimitar.
He looks to Irabeth. "Is this advisable? Is it even feasible?"
Roshan is not smiling. He lays a single finger by the side of his nose.
"I would suggest impersonating this commander, but it is probably an unnecessary detail," chancre says. "So long as we can pull off the timing, I like this plan."
Roshan's eyes crinkle. In contrast to his previous serious demeanor he does smile, and gives a slight nod, with a finger alongside the nose and a point to Chancre.
Chancre nods back.
Just before the diversionary elite troop is about to set off, Irabeth raises a hand in farewell. "We will wait for the army to be distracted to flank."
A pause, "Just a thought, based on what I've seen of your skill," she coughs into her armored hand, "What if you kill off the commanders before they manage to raise an alarm?"
Just before the diversionary elite troop is about to set off, Irabeth raises a hand in farewell. "We will wait for the army to be distracted to flank."
A pause, "Just a thought, based on what I've seen of your skill," she coughs into her armored hand, "What if you kill off the commanders before they manage to raise an alarm?"
"Then Chancre impersonates the leader and calls for reinforcements," says Konstantin matter-of-factly.
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"Then Chancre impersonates the leader and calls for reinforcements," says Konstantin matter-of-factly.
Irabeth almost smiles, "Just as long as we have a plan for that, I feel better."
The group has to move a mile south to find a place in the river where the current is meek enough to allow a crossing on horseback. The well-trained steeds are not pleased about the watery pull when their hooves lose contact with the ground, but push on at the urging from Anevia and Sosiel.
The western side of the river is rockier, more broken than the well-cultivated eastern roads that you've been traveling. The shrub and brush on this side is odd. Nothing grows as well but the horses often have to push their way through clinging underbrush, and at least one of the horses nickers in pain when its thick coat is broken by thorns.
Just as the sky starts to from storm grey to the true dark of night with the setting of the sun, you can make out the fort on the far bank. No one living walks the battlements - but they are guarded by the dead. Heads of the men and women who protected Vilareth decorate the top of the wall while their entrails are thrown as garlands between.
Of the bunker-like buildings within the walls of the fort, you see only two with movement. One with darkened windows, is protected by four bored tieflings. The other, with light spilling from the small arrow slits, is unguarded.
Samirah looks between the two buildings. "I can't imagine that one is as empty as it looks." She says quietly, pointing to the lit up building. "I'd be inclined to attack the tieflings and be done with it."
"Let us get a little closer and attack. It is more important that we get inside the walls before they know we're here. Once we're inside, discovery is not just inevitable, it's important for our goal."
"Do any of you have a silencing spell? I do not."
"We have these scales... we could use them to float? Or disguise ourselves as very quiet people?" She looks amused with herself, then looks to the spell casters for an actual suggestion or answer to Chancre's question.
"Do any of you have a silencing spell? I do not."
Konstantin frowns, wracking his brain. "Unfortunately no."
"It's bard trickery." Aravashnial says, "Useful as it could be in this situation, your magic and mine is more generally useful." The elf adds to Konstantin. He blows out a breath, "I could summon something large and noisy on the far side of the guard to distract them, but they would know something was amiss."
Chancre frowns and nods. "Ear-piercing scream is pretty much exactly the opposite of stealthy. And it's the closest that I've got, spell wise."
Roshan hands the reigns of his horse over to Pan or whomever happens to be next to him. He silently walks down to the waters edge, still out of sight of the tieflings. He crouches, muscles bunch and then he uncoils. Launching himself almost effortlessly across the waters to the other side ...despite nearly turning an ankle on a loose stone.
He tosses a silk rope across so it straddles the stream and ties his end to something handy along the fort, or holds it if nothing proves available.
Being significantly closer to the tieflings, he makes sure to make no excessive noise. He glances towards the entrance, but stays on hand to help others should they need assistance making the crossing.
Amended action: After learning that the river is well over 50', Roshan merely takes his time and wades across. He will offer his rope instead for others to hold onto or tie off on, should they think they need it.
Samirah hops off her horse, content to follow movement rather than discussion of movement. She takes the offer for help, however, as falling down into the stream and making a bunch of noise seems like the opposite of what they're trying to do.
As Samirah and Roshan head off into the darkness, Aron moves to grab the reins of their horses. "I should be to keep them quiet of you think you'd do better without their noise."
Samirah looks back and waves her thanks to Aron.
Konstantin speaks a few words, and his hands grow, webbing appearing between his fingers. Fins unfold from his scales and stabilize him as he easily wades across the river. On the other side, the webbing and fins fall back into his body, while his claws extend. Now they are heavier, hooked at the end, and he has a matching pair on his feet. He begins scaling the wall of the fort like a lizard.
*touch of luck from Sosiel
*touch of luck from himself
The trio sets off across the river, Anevia just downstream of the two men in case one slips and Sosiel trying to support the reedy elf. Aravashnial's innate elven grace seems to hold him in good stead, leaving him in soaked robes at the far side.
When Anevia see Konstantin head for the wall on the dark side of the fort, she motions to the outside of the open passage into the fort, all three (Aravashnial happily dry) waiting for the group to start the combat.
Chancre attempts to glide silently through the river like a thing of noiseless beauty.
More or less, despite the armor, he succeeds.
Samirah, Chancre, Roshan, Miril, and Anevia all hear Konstantin's voice in their ears.
"I am going to check to see what is in the lighted room."
Brimorak weaponry can be infused with some of their demonic fire, dealing additional damage. The brimorak breaths a noxious smoke which is often used to nauseate foes.
Konstantin's voice once again sounds in the ears of the five named.
"The lighted room contains five tieflings and a brimorak." What follows is an explanation of a brimorak under both spoilers. "Let us get into position. The lighted room is our priority. I believe the brimorak is the leader here."
He pauses. "Also, it appears I can become invisible now. This is an interesting sensation, but now is not the time to discuss it."
The same people once again get Konstantin's voice in their ears. "The hostages are in the dark building. Fifteen to twenty are still alive. Let us form up for an assault on the lighted building, but keep an eye out if any run for the hostages. Our first priority is them, followed by the brimorak."
Samirah rolls her eyes. "Of course it's immune to fire. Why not?" She mutters after Konstantin's explanation of a brimorak.
"Shall we make our way to the lit building, then?" She asks, already inching across the ground toward the intended target.
"Thank you, გენაცვალე." She responds to Konstantin's message, quietly, and as though she isn't quite sure he'll actually hear her response.
Chancre keeps his eyes on the stealthy, and moves toward the lighted building.
Initiative
Fort DC 21
Roshan
magic: +1/+1
masterwork: +1
Point Blank: +1/+1
Flurry of Blows: -0
Deadly Aim: -2/+4
If Roshan has an angle on the demon, two blades fly through the dimly lit room to sink deeply into Lady Brimorak.
If Roshan acts too late, he will bound over those in the door, across the room and alight atop the table on the far side of the room, sending cards, chips and less desirable things flying.
Samirah darts into the room, turning left as soon as she enters to launch herself at the tieflings seated there. A grin lights her face at the same time as the scimitar in her hand heats to a dull, hot red.
"Tieflings! My favorite."