"The team that goes for a ballista may need to convince it to obey them. They aren't as bright as a warforged, but will still probably want proof of authority."
"Hmm, awfully Aundair-like, employing such heavy weaponry. I'd watch out for battlemage types also."
During the day Rehil asks Eshsheth, "How far did the lizardman army get. Were you stopped on the outer slopes? Did you get inside the crater rim? Inside the town? "
Cole is mostly quiet through the plan-making, watching the distant encampment without much comment. "Do we think they have a command center? Are we hoping to take their ship and then try for Bokehn's information? Or should we try to hit their command center for information on the way to the airship?"
So, Rehil, Vaard, Ashshar, Eshsheth, and Skelly hit the ballista tower?
Nalverren, Wultram, Cole, and Otto are for the airship?
The adventurers discuss their plan. None of their options look good - the defenses of the base look formidable - but they begin to formulate a strategy.
Having set their plan, the group slip down to the water's edge as dusk approaches. Rehil, the lizardfolk and Wultram's skeletal servant slip into the water while the others head through the jungle towards the base.
The water is quite cold, but very still. Swallowing the odd mouthful as they swim, it has an odd metallic tang, but doesn't seem to be actively poisonous.
Thinking he'd be more of a hindrance to those heading for the airship, Vaard follows along behind Rehil....
As the groups prepare to split up, Cole gives his comrades from the other group a long look. "Do you have a way to signal us with lights? I'd suggest torches, but ... water. Signal us if there's an issue." He stops to consider, "So should we just hold the ship until we see you attack the other siege weapons? Or come as soon as we have control of the ship?"
Rehil cocks his head at the warforged. "If there's an issue before we attack, then we won't. We'll abort and try again tomorrow. Wait until the alarm is raised against us before you go in.
"If there's an issue after we attack, it doesn't matter. The plan is the same. You grab the airship and come get us as fast as you can. If you have an issue, we may be dead."
I'll make the swim check when we're poised for the attack.
Ben, in Aubrey's spoiler to Wultram and me he mentions that only Rehil has to make the check because the lizardfolk have swim speeds.
Cole nods, then gives them all a look. "Take care of yourselves. Let's all walk out of this thing alive."
"Cole, you're a bit too noisy for us to get any closer. Let me have a look and see if I can muffle your joints."
Nalverren proceeds to look the construct's form over, focusing on elbows, knees, and ankles as well as the masses of cables that supplanted muscles in a normal flesh form.
His plans to mechanically muffle the scraping of metal changed when, upon closely examining his subject, faint lines of magical energies became apparent to his eyes. A fine mesh of gold and azure and jade lines intertwined before his eyes in a manner heretofore unknown to him. Making sense of it now, however, he was able to twist a few of the intangible wires such that small bubbles of force cushioned the myriad of clattering metal fixtures in the 'forged.
The normal cacophony of Cole's movements had largely abated.
"Hmm, it appears the magical aspects of your construction overlap more so than I previously knew. If I survive this, it looks like I have more studying to do."
Rehil unstrings his new bow. He coils the string and places it inside his belt pouch, making sure to draw that tight and knot it closed. Frowning with regret at the watery travails his weapons will shortly undergo, he double checks that his sword and dagger are secure.
He looks at the water. "Let's stay close together. If we get separated we'll meet on the far shore just east of the tower."
After waiting for replies from his comrades, he wades out into the lake and begins a steady sidestroke toward an area offshore of the tower.
They track across the lake, using Rehil's night vision and the lights of the human camp, before turning and heading for shore.
About 100 yards from their goal Rehil stops to study the the shoreline. He looks for light sources, guards, and means of egress from the water.
As they get to the area with the thinning trees, Cole pauses, looking at their surroundings. "So does anyone see a less populated approach? Or one with cover?"
Nalverren also takes his time to be quiet, unseen, and to look for enemies, traps, and details of their objective.
Rehil stops swimming and squirms to the surface, letting his forehead and eyes break into the air.
“Warforged sentries,” he rumbles quietly, pointing out a few warforged taking positions in the doorways of some of the towers. “Looks like we might be expected.”
He considers, “If they’re looking for us, it might be that much harder to sneak by. it also means any ‘out of the ordinary’ distractions might only bring additional attention.”
He looks at his teammates, “Rehil mentioned it might be easy to get some uniforms. Could we find someone, take their uniform, then have one of you pose as an officer to pull those sentries from the doorways to go reinforce the other side of camp? If they’re on the lookout for an incursion, maybe it will be an easy lie to sell that such a sneak in was attempted somewhere else.”
Rehil points to the shadowed area closest to the target tower and turns to the others quietly. "Ashshar and I will lead. You swim in to where you can stay under the water with just your eyes out. We'll check the shore and wave you in if it is safe."
"Ashshar, I'll take the right; you take the left, about 50' apart. Stay hidden, have a quick look, and if it's clear raise your right arm. If I do the same, then we wave the others in."
Rehil and Ashshar emerge from the water, climbing quietly on to the steps.