"One cultist? What makes you think it was a cultist? Come, talk while we walk - the camp is on high alert until our return."
Cole walks, and quickly, leading his horse back toward camp while Beagan and Aron explain themselves.
"Glad to see you well, Beagan. You were right to stay to your strength, and avoid playing to theirs. I've never been in the 'Wound, but I wonder if we are destined for an eternal night. From the stories I've heard..." Eli follows close enough behind. Between his horse and he, Eli starts to grow more uncomfortable about trusting distance and perception.
"Well, he wasn't singing Deskaran hymns. I just sort of... That is, he was out here and..." Aron grows more and more agitated as he tries to answer.
"Who else but cultists and madmen would be out here?!?!?! Either way, we thought we should come report. We can go back out, Sir!"
He turns to Aron, trying to calm the lad.
"The tiefling might not have been a cultist, but we needed to check it out, in any case. We had your gut, your first reaction to go on, so that's what we went with. If the tiefling is indeed an cultist, it's better that we didn't show ourselves."
He shares his view with Cole and any others around. "Nothing seemed to say he was doubling back when night fell, or that he knew we were there. Chances are he continued on, so maybe we can find our way back to his trail tomorrow, in the light, and see if there are indications about him being a cultist, one way or the other."
"Who else but cultists and madmen would be out here?!?!?!"
"I can think of dozens of folks out here at the moment... neither cultists, nor madme... wait a moment..." Eli listens further to Beagan's report.
"Does his trail align with our trail towards our own destination? I'd hate to lose more time, wandering off."
Cole looks levelly at Beagan and Aron. He's not sure where to begin. He begins slowly and evenly.
"It's fine that you found someone out here and tracked them a little ways. However, your first responsibility is to the column of troops behind you. We need to camp in the best spots possible and we need to know the way is clear before us."
"While you were off hunting a lone, possible cultist, we made camp in a more or less random spot we noticed as we were traveling and dusk was falling. I think it's a good spot, but without a little ride around, I have no idea."
"The camp is also on alert, with troops that should be sleeping keeping watch. That's because we didn't know where you were or what happened to you. You might have encountered a hoard of demons who are just waiting for dusk to overwhelm us. Your tardiness will cost us time on the road tomorrow as fatigue sets in for those troops."
"Finally one lone cultist out here is not someone to follow. Either he's truly alone in which case he's not a threat, or he's with a larger group in which case you can't handle it. Sure, follow him enough to see where he's headed - take a bearing - but that's it. We don't have a large scouting party out here to cover for you as you investigate every little thing. We have to let some things go."
Cole looks especially at Aron, ”Don’t take this the wrong way, you guys are doing a tough job out here and I don’t like that you don’t have proper support. Just keep your heads down and eyes open and you’ll be fine.”
"Aye, Sir." The young man takes the criticism well, but keeps his head down and his mouth closed. As they approach the campsite, he offers only, "Yes, Sir. That's the place I had in mind for tonight."
Serra goes to look over the campsite.
Perception
"Let's go, Dinner. The sooner we make camp, the sooner I get off your back."
Eli listens as Cole dresses down the two scouts. Glad for my eyes, sometimes... Knowing the two are safely returned from their patrol is enough, so Eli follows the group back to camp. He asks Beagan for a firsthand account of the terrain. "What does it look like out there? How far can you range with your sight?"
That night's camp passes uneventfully, though the men seem restless after the odd beginning.
In the morning, the camp makes good time, and soon, those with the eyes of eagles can make out the faint shapes of the buildings of Vilareth's Ford can just be made out.
Serra peers ahead.
"Cole? COLE?!" Serra shouts to Cole amid the noise of travel. "Do you see that? Is that...is that what I think it is?"
Serra points out the unpleasantness.
"It might be that we need purge this place with fire. Lots of fire after we scour for survivors. We should proceed carefully."
Serra takes a moment to read up on a few spells, preparing himself for battles that might come in the Ford.
"Ely, there are strings...reddish strings from building to building. I don't not think they are winter solstice strings of good cheer either. This does not bode well. Be ready."
Eli hears Serra describe the distant gore. He grips his hammer more tightly, and looks over the general perimeter of his sight, and all the men and women he can take in, and their reactions. He remembers Captain Jothindra's words of encouragement to him, so in turn, Eli tries to muster encouragement for those riding close by.
"We approach, closer every hour, to the time when we'll be asked to take action. We are not here to witness to the atrocities laid before us! We are here to bring retribution! We are here to reclaim what was lost. What will be found again! Not just the Banner, but the peace! Remember that!"
The Gnome tracks down Aron and then spurs him forward. Scowling at the piked heads, Began leads Aron around the perimeter of the town, looking for any evidence of who attacked, which direction they came from, or if there were any who might have escaped and survived.
As Beagan encourages Aron to look for tracks, he keeps watch over the lad, looking for any enemies that might approach.
Eli's words seem to hearten the men, for several, even veterans, looked ill at the sight before them.
Jurin wanders to the head of the group, stopping in with the command party.
"Serra, I brought your emergency rations. I didn't want you to get hungry and eat dinner by mistake. Here's a side of lamb, a loaf of bread, and a small cask of ale, just like you want it for your afternoon snack. I had to leave the rest with the wagon, in case everybody realized just how much you're cutting into our limited rations. How long to the Ford?"
Spurred by Serra, Cole peers into the distance and spies the gore. He finds and gives a quick order to Jothinra, ”Leave a small contingent of knights here to protect the wagons. We’ll ride ahead with the larger group of knights and see what is to be seen here. I expect combat with whomever did this if they’re still around.”
”Serra, Eli, care to join us? We’ll need your help I expect.”
”Laina, stay here with the wagons.”
Cole waits for Jothinra to give the orders and prepare the knights, then rides near the head of the column looking out for trouble.
"I'm ready to help, Cole. Point me in a general direction with an approximate distance, otherwise I'll kite along with the rest of you."
”Serra, Eli, care to join us? We’ll need your help I expect.”
Serra turns his head around to look at Cole following him to the Ford. He smiles.
"I do not think you could stop me. If there is evil there, then it is us knights who must vanquish it," Serra says.
Serra pats Dinner and readies his ranseur.
Spotting what appears to be a significant problem, Beagan orders Aron to return and report to Cole. "If you can return without being seen, do so, but whatever it takes, make sure you reach Sir Cole's advance party before they approach the hollow."
As he peers again, a flash of a mirror catches his eye, someone in the captured town signalling. Beagan doesn't wait, but spurs Xanthos to follow Aron, determined to reach the advance guard before it approaches the ford.
Working their small forms through the brush, the Gnome and Bonalagus follow Aron through the riverine cover until they can finally gallop up to Cole's advance party.
He looks around with wide eyes, his focus quickly bouncing from the soiled walls of the town across the river, the innocent looking break in the riverine hills just by the hollow, and the troop of men trailing behind Cole and his forward party.
"It's a trap!"
He swallows a large lung-full of air and reels in his hands, anxious not to be too... anxious. "Ahem. The enemy lies in wait, perhaps four score of cultists and their ilk, sitting in a hollow just opposite the bank of the ford. If you lead our guys across the river there, they're sure to fall on our butts."
He looks back at the forsaken outpost. "They've taken the town, or at least part of it, across the river, and enemy guards on those walls are signalling the big troop in the hollow that you're coming."
"I'm guessing we either need to high-tail it out of here..." ...and leave whoever is left in town to their fate.. "...or prepare for battle."
Cole pulls his horse to a stop.
Damnit!
"Any way we can stealth these guys with a small group, or are we just done for if we cross?"
"We need to cross here, so I think we have to take these guys one way or another. Maybe we can draw them out. They can't be too tough... right?"
He looks to the others for ideas.
"Numbers always look smaller when they are funneled. Beagan, was there any specific spot we could meet them in a narrower run? Either that, or stay to higher ground, and hound them as they attempt to meet us directly." Eli considers the report further.
"I would gladly silence two cultists, if everyone agrees to their own two."
Serra bristles at Beagan's news, happy to have it, but disliking the contents.
"There is little I hate more than cultists who have given themselves over to *them*. They would aid those that would rend man's souls for their own personal gain," Serra grunts from under his beard.
"They don't leave here alive. None of them." Serra asserts.
"If it helps, I can mask our approach with sleet and snow, blocking the eyes of our enemy from our approach from whatever side we do."
Serra gets off dinner, getting some parchment and a pen from his 'sack.
"Beagan, help me sketch out the terrain and the position of their cultists."
"They don't leave here alive. None of them."
"Don't forget they just took a town, in a rather heinous fashion. There could be those who were just 'volunteered' with little choice. When we're not in danger, it can be worthwhile to try and sort slave from die-hard."
Beagan describes the situation as best he can, especially the route to the river. "Our path to the crossing passes a hollow that is rather hidden. When one finally gets close to the river, anyone in the hollow has an open line to anyone in the open field that abuts the ford."
He grimaces. "As you've probably seen, it looks like that evil has taken the Mendevian fortified town just across the river. It looks like the tortured remains of guards are... on display."
Jurin listens intently, looking between the map and the town.
"Maybe we shouldn't hit them in the face if we can stab them in the back?"
Cole gestures to the cliffs on the map.
" Those are tough to climb and it's about an 80' drop. Any troops we send that way will be dangling on ropes in mid-air for several rounds" he frowns. "Not a good spot to be in."
"I suggest we put a few archers up there though, and have them drop ropes below as if we were sending troops that way. Then if any of them start climbing up, we release the ropes and the archers keep firing on them."
"One thing I hadn't thought of though are fliers. If there are fliers, our small archery group here is sunk. They'll have to fall back with the main group, and fast."
He looks to Jothinra, "So select your best, and fastest, archers for that mission."
Serra looks over the map, thinking and ponderifying on things.
- Though you can see a lot of knight and cultist tokens, ignore them. They aren't there yet.
- Our tokens haven't been placed yet. We aren't there yet either.
- We strongly suspect there is a Cultist Army hiding down the ravine, in and around the tents, and beach. We call that place CultistTentArmyBeach.
- Again, we knights and our tokens haven't been truly placed on the map yet.
- The Buildings have the Signaling Cultists. They are in the buildings and can see up and along the ridge and approach better than the Cultist Army.
- The river is a ford...which means that the Cultist Army can retreat back into town across the river (difficult terrain).
- We are about 15 minutes from the ridge.
Serra rubs his chin, thinking.
"It sounds reasonable to place archers from above. The height of the cliffs is enough to discourage me, as it'll be out of the range of my sight. I'd prefer to move in with the contingent." Eli consider the map further.
"Is there any way of preventing a retreat? They'll certainly shore themselves up on higher ground if they consider their position beneath the cliffs. At least I would. Could we come in along the river itself, avoiding the sightlines of the sentinel building?"
Eli listens to what the others think.
"I'm not sure about cutting it off completely, but if I know cultists, they'll stay longer than they should, just for the thrill of watching the others die. They're not stupid, but they are addicted to the lust for havoc and death." Sosiel opines. Aron nods his head, agreeing with his partner, but is otherwise quiet, waiting for Cole's final decision.
"and then there's the river..."Nurah adds. "That may slow them down."
"Eli, we could come down the river side, but I think the town watchers would notice us so they may be able to hamper us there as well. If it were me, I’d have archers on those walls to cover the river. Hell, maybe even siege engines. In any event, it's a couple hours to circle around to come in that way and I don't know that the time is well spent. Could be, I'm just not sure."
Cole straightens up and looks away from the map, "We could just skip them altogether. There's another crossing further up, might make it before sundown tomorrow. It'd take us most of two days out of our way and then these might hamper our rear as we head to Drezen. Not a good choice I think, I just mention it for completeness."
"I think we need to meet them head on I'm afraid. Well, aside from a few archers in support.”
He looks to the assembled group, "Anyone have any spells or other magics that might help us or hinder the enemy? My few spells won't help the group much."
Serra steps back as Cole mentions what magics might be brought to bear.
Mom prepared me for this with her tricks. The time to use her gifts fully.
Serra lets out a loud snuff from his nose before speaking.
"I can help with two things: denying sight from those buildings so neither their eyes nor archers will see us," Serra points at an imaginary line running from the buildings to the ridge.
"Secondly, we should use magic and trickery to put the focus of battle on us. I can conduct 5, maybe 6, of us down the ridge here, quickly and safely," Serra points to the back of the ridge along the beach. He looks at Cole.
"Cole, I like having the archers up here to pester and annoy the enemy. I suggest we send the bulk of our forces, save the archers, here...down this path here," Serra points to where the knights are lined up, "...to draw the enemy out and spring any traps that might exist. They are a distraction..." Serra continues.
"If they move to engage the knight we 5 drop in from behind. That way we take the bulk of the war upon ourselves."
Serra awaits input and criticism. It's somewhat clear he has another plan if the first one isn't going to 'fly'.
Cole looks at the robust Serra, "Well done sir. Well done. Yes, I would very much like to be back there. You think we can hold off the force of them while the knights attack the front? If the fight goes badly, there's no way out for us there."
He looks at the map a long moment and shrugs.
"We need to eliminate this force. Let's drop in."
"Anyone have any spells or other magics that might help us or hinder the enemy? My few spells won't help the group much."
"If necessary, Tenderlev's scale can slowly raise somebody to the top of a cliff." He thinks for a moment. "Or down for that matter."
"I can lay my hands to call on the gods to heal, or ask the flames to protect someone from evil, or to vengefully smite it myself." "But mostly I can ride Xanthos into battle, armoring the faithful and shielding and healing the Big R's holy mount."
"Xanthos can move quickly, I mean really quickly for an instant, when inspired by the Herald."
Jurin listens as Serra spins his tale of heroic death and the others agree.
"Too much bacon, the lot of you. But I know how to kill cultists."
Eli watches the strategy being sketched on the map with gestures and words.
"I think that should work. I can affect edge groups with sonic blasts to stun them. If I place it right, I should be able to target 12 at a time, if they're clustered. Otherwise, can bring about bursts of light which will likely either dazzle them or blind them outright. I understand this light will also burn them if they are well and truly evil. I am willing to try, at least. Otherwise, if we need to obscure sight, the waters of the river can be thickened and drawn into their midst."
Jurin scratches his head.
"How are you going to blind them with river water Eli? Did I give you the wrong apple cider jug?"
"No, it's impossible to give over the 'wrong' cider." Eli smiles at Jurin. "The waters can be swirled into a small fog bank. Pretty thick stuff, and should make it nigh impossible to see straight, if we wanted to cut off sightlines. I'd imagine a circle that could descend upon roughly forty of them, if placed right. Trouble with that is, we'd be blind to them as much as they us."
Serra nods as his plans are accepted. He speaks with Ely over some details.
"That fog cloud...that's exactly what I had hoped to use to cloud the senses of the signalers from the building. Maybe we should both do it to provide more cover," Serra suggests, pointing to two spots on the map. "You focus yours here, and mine here...and then we jump from here," Serra points to spot on the map, marking it lightly with a dab of ink.
"We jump from here. Me, Beagan, Xanthos, Cole, & Ely..." Serra's eyes flicker to Jurin, but it's clear that Serra has no idea what the cook intends to do.
"I'll get us down there safely. My hope is that Jothinra can bring their army out to meet them over here, our archers can keep them distracted until we can cause havoc from behind," Serra confirms.
"Any questions?"
Eli frowns as Serra offers his plan. "Well, I won't be able to bring my part of the fog until I'm within sixty feet or so, since my sight limits. As long as it's not immediately needed, I'll cast it after we've jumped, I think."
"We aren't taking prisoners?"
Cole thinks, "We have no means of dealing with prisoners, but we can show mercy. Any who surrender can be released as we leave I suppose. I suspect any who surrender are here by force in any event, and the others, well, they won't surrender."
Cole shifts his equipment around and readies his bow.
"I'm ready."
"Let's do this."
Beagan Berelcar: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
Dretch: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (19) + 0 = 19
Cultists: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Elyanius Myoch: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (13) + 0 = 13
Jurin: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11
Archers(5): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10
Knights(30): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Cole Zeff: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Serra Iondri Phaer: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
The plan is put in to motion, the paladins tromping loudly down the path singing valiant hymns to Iomedae. So loud are they that the enemy below surges to meet them, oblivious to the archers and elite strike force coming from other directions.
Surprise Round, Init 22
"We jump from here. Me, Beagan, Xanthos, Cole, & Ely... I'll get us down there safely."
Xanthos scrambles down the steep, bramble-covered hill.
The Gnome seems to bob and weave out of the way of the brambles with some alacrity.
Serra is happy to jump first (with others) and bravely lead the charge.
Surprise Round, Init 13
Eli takes advantage of the collective, controlled descent. His eyes begin to seek the positions which will yield maximal damage. He still strains, sixty feet not nearly accommodating enough over the range of this battlefield.
Round: surprise, Initiative: 6
HP: 41/41 +11 temp
Weapon Equipped = Composite (+2) Long Bow, darkwood, +1, adaptive
Cold Iron Arrows = 54/54
Silver Blunt Arrows = 20/20
Cold Iron, Adamantine Blanch Arrows = 20/20
Cold Iron, Ghost Salt Arrows = 10/10
+1, Outsider Bane, Cold Iron Blanch Arrows = 10/10
+1, Holy, Cold Iron Blanch Arrows = 5/5
+1, Evil Outsider Slaying (DC20 fort or +50hp damage), Cold Iron Blanch Arrow = 1/1
Conditions = Aspect of the Falcon (1 of 20), Bolstering (2 of 200)
Mythic Power = 3/4 (immed., d6)(swift, decisive strike)
Ranger Focus = 2/2 (ex, swift, +4 attack/damage)
Child of the Crusade = 1/1 (free, reroll failed save to be demonically possessed or incapacitated)
Silver Dragon Scale = 2/3 (standard, bolstering)
Bow Attack Mods: BAB +5, Dex +4, Bow +1, Weapon Focus +1, Rapid Shot -0, Deadly Aim -2
Bow Damage Mods: Composite Bow +3, Bow +1, Deadly Aim +4
Spells (caster level 2, concentration +4)
Level 0 (DC 12) Create Water (1/1)
Level 1 (DC 13)
The rounds before the jump, Cole uses his dragon scale to improve his chances in the coming scrum and of course he cast Aspect of the Falcon. In the surprise round (delaying as needed for the spell), he leaps into the air, trusting Serra to ‘catch’ them all before hitting the ground. On his descent he looks out over the battlefield, bow in hand, planning his attack.
(aspect)
Bolstering
Before the jump, Serra will become Aasimarra: he of arms that appear sculpted from marble, always slender and beautifully proportioned, graceful with feathered hair and glittering skin.
The demons and cultists shall know their end this day.
He will also cast Shield (5/minutes).
Surprise Round, Init 22 (revised)
Beagan invokes the Big R' just before Xanthos leaps.
The mount runs and leaps into the air, pushing off from the top of the ridge.
Round Surprise
HP = 48/48
AC/T/FF = 16/11/15
Weapon Equipped = мировник
Speed = 30'
Arcane Pool = 7/7
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 5th; concentration +4)
. . At will—Feather Fall (self only)
. . 5 minutes/day—Fly (self only)
. . 1/day—Levitate (self only)
Magus (Hexcrafter) Spells Prepared (CL 5th; concentration +9):
. . 2nd—glitterdust (DC 16), mirror image, stone discus
. . 1st—acid shocking grasp (M) (2), color spray (DC 15), frostbite, vanish (DC 15)
. . 0 (at will)—brand (DC 14), detect magic, light, prestidigitation
Status Effects = None
Jurin shakes his head as the others jump off the cliff.
"Not sure what a general is doing leading this strike, but I guess I'd better get going. Watch and learn Cole."
Jurin jumps off the cliff, looking to use Serra to cushion his fall.