Duvall falls to his knees but lifts his eyes to the heavens in thanks to Helm for the news of the survivors. Then he channels his last energy for the day, offering a bit of healing before collapsing on the ground.
Hezar covers Duvall.
All we were able to see is movement inside the chapel, and some faces at the windows, though I could not tell you what races they are, much less if they are armed. I would imagine they must be if they are still holding out.
"That is great news, how many do you think are in the vicinity?"
Unknown. We were over 100 feet from the windows. Would that I knew more. They are expecting us in the morning, I was able to send a note through the window attached to an arrow.
"Good. If They've been savin' their strength, they'll be ready when we make our move. If we're bedding down fer now, I'll take the darkest watch since we're not lightin' a fire."
Hezar closes his eyes and thinks on what he saw.
I think there were a mix of humans and dwarves inside. The good news is that the chapel is stone so it is not likely to be burnt quickly.
There were definitely multiple fires burning inside so I assume that means there are several of them.
Here it the real question. How do we get in? The moat is keeping the undead out, but it will keep us out as well.
"I think the moat actually provides us with a good opportunity, hopefully the villagers are armed with bows or slings and the moat will keep the undead away from them while we deal with them. Any ideas? If we just march in we'll surely be overrun so we need options. How do the other buildings look?"
Hezar blushes. I am afraid that I was so focused on getting the arrow through the window ad then escaping that I did not look at them. Perhaps Janiraes did. Hezar says hopefully.
There is a map of the village for you to use for planning purposes. I won't pretend to be proud of the art, but hopefully it provides you with info on the structures in town, or at least their placement.
"Well, what is our actual objective here? Head in to rescue the survivors or destroy the undead? Because those are two different things.
If we're going to rescue the survivors, we need to get over the trench they've built around the church. Maybe get some rope and throw it up to the survivors, then have them slide down to us?"
Squatting down next to the map, Janiries would point out parts of it with her rapier.
"As far as I could tell, the other buildings were fine. Personally, I'd suggest that most of us attack from the north of the village to draw the undead away, while a smaller group sneaks in from the south and gets to the survivors with some rope. Distractions always worked well back home.
We also need to set up a watch for tonight. I suggest that Hezar and Ariael take first watch, then Belgrin and myself, and finally Landon, Duvall and Marius."
Hezar laughs at the watch schedule then nods.
Looking up from the map to spot the sleeping party members, Janiries would mutter before speaking again.
"Alright, Hezar and Landon take first watch, then Belgrin and myself, and finally Ariael, Duvall and Marius."
"That's fine. If at least one of the buildings is intact or at least sturdy enough to support some of us I'd suggest those skilled with range take to the roof and act as a distraction as well as thin out the numbers while the rest of us move in like Janiries suggested and get the survivors out and away."
"Aye, It'll do me cousins good to see another dwarf in their midst. I'll go in for the rescue group, since I'm neither an archer nor a sprinter. I say first priority is to get the survivors out. Otherwise, not only do we bring sad news back...if we make it back...but we face more potential enemies later. If we're lucky, some o' them might have intel, supplies or the like, might even get some backup if they still have the spirit for it."
I agree. Jairies, if you are joining me on the roof, make sure you have those blunt arrows ready.
"That'd work, yes. Give us enough arrows and we'll thin out the horde."
Hezar hands Janiries 4 more Blunt arrows
"Okay, lets get some sleep then we'll head out in the morning, Janiries, Hezar and Ariael will be the distraction group while Duvall, myself and Belgrin move to rescue to survivors. Marius you're welcome to come with us to help or stay here and make sure we have a safe place to bring them."
Marius thinks for a moment before responding. I'm thinking I should probably go along and assist with the extraction team. We're likely going to have to punch our way out, and the only safe place around here is to not be here, I think. He sits back and looks up at the starless sky. He then reaches into a pouch at his belt and pulls out several sling stones. Silvanus will give me a spell tomorrow which will turn these into a nasty surprise for our undead friends. And, I can always summon a little extra help to bolster our numbers.
Marius then sits forward with a serious look on his face. Does it not seem odd that there would be survivors holed up in the village? Why are they still there, I mean, instead of having tried to make their escape?
Belgrin sits down with his back to a large stone, folds his arms and closes his eyes.
"If me cousins had any say in it, they chose not to give up their home without a fight. Come mornin', we'll give em one."
Or perhaps there are wounded that could not travel immediately. Make sure you all get some sleep, it will be a long day.
Hezar finds a spot for his watch.
Landon will move to block the most likely entrance to their campsite and wait, while keeping vigil.
Taking the arrows from Hezar and putting them into her pack, Janiries would prepare for reverie, responding to Marius as she sets out her bedroll.
"It's not too odd. It's possible they don't have the numbers to make an escape. Anyway, get some sleep everyone."
Is everyone onboard with the plan? If you're good, then post your characters preparations (e.g., spells memorized) and we'll get this going.
Marius wakes and memorizes:
Orisons: guidance, resistance, stabilize
Level One: magic stone, shillelagh
Hezar awakes, and eats a trail ration. Then he checks that his holy waters are within easy reach, strings his bow and readies the horses.
Yawning wide and stretching, Belgrin makes a quick entry in his logbook for the morning and gets his equipment situated for battle. "Alright then, let's put these corpses back in the ground, shall we?"
Landon will tend his weapon and pray then find something in his pack to eat.
Duvall wakes for his watch, spends some time in prayer for his daily spells, finds some hard tack for breakfast, and gets ready to go rescue the survivors of Tilver's Folly.
Janiries would, upon waking, clean her weapons and do some morning stretches, getting ready for the coming battle.
"Lets go do this."
Ariael rises, mediates for his spells and readies himself. Upon hearing of the plan he nods his agreement with it "Sounds good to me"
With that he joins Janiries and Hezar.
Looking through the gear, Janiries would open the scroll cases and check the potions, reading the labels out loud.
"Right, we've got a potion of cure light wounds, a potion of protection from evil and a potion of enlarge person. As for scrolls, we've got one of magic missile, one of summon monster, 1st level, and Elur's scroll of fireball. I reckon that our group should take the potion of cure light wounds, while the group rescuing the survivors should take the potion of enlarge person."
Agree
"Aye, I could have no end of fun stompin' undead into the dirt with a boot twice my size, ha!"
@ Duvall:
@ Duvall: ** spoiler omitted **
Okay, so the plan, as I understand it:
Ariael, Janiries and Hezar will circle around and approach from the east. Their job will be to attract the attention of as many undead as possible.
Duvall, Belgrin, Landon and Marius will form the team that attempts entry to the shrine. Their job will be to try and extract the survivors under cover of the distraction team.
If anyone has any final concerns or information they want to add, now would be the time.
Okay, so we're going to need to split the group for this one. When will the split take place? Are you going to approach the village as one unit, then have the distraction team split off and circle around to approach from the west? Or will you split now, from the get go, and approach separately?
Okay, to see if you can get to your mustering point unmolested, your two stealthy guides (Hezar and Janiries) will need to lead you there quietly, and unseen.
Hezar and Janiries, please make a stealth roll each and post your results. The rolls will represent your efforts to guide your less stealthy companions through the undead-infested environs of Tillver's Folly.
Hezar's eyes are keen and he points out eery dry twig and loose rock
Sure, thanks for the reminder Ariael. Definitely roll as well.