Gerard dismounts, helping Andrea and Euphemia down from their respective saddles.
Dogtongue. This is not attacking? What information did you gather?
I think we can hardly blame them. They were quite a ways ahead of us and came upon the patrol, I believe that there is just so much restraint that they will agree to. In fact if they have eliminated a patrol it can mean that we will have fewer to face.
Euphemia inclines her head to Gerard, interrupted in her thanking by his taking notice of what could be considered a breach of conduct.
Senseless killing is wasteful. There will be enough to kill soon...
"Not senseless...now, less enemies to fight at one time. Redcaps cleared path across trail." He looks at a few of the decased, "They didn't talking."
I do agree with you, but we didn't make a hard and fast contract with the Redcaps and it is doubtful that they would agree to it. Andrea shrugs. No good answer. Andrea replies to Gerard.
The few redcaps that appeared to have minor wounds have now knitted themselves back together.
How much further to Mother's tree? Andrea looks to the others. I wonder if we can use magic to talk to her. Does anyone have messaging magic besides Lucrezia?
Andrea, you're not helping. You're making excuses for them. We need to count on them to control themselves or they can never be part of any plan.
Eventually, and I mean soon... they will encounter something tougher than they are... it will end them, more waste.
Dogtongue, will you be a part of a larger team or not? If I can't count on you... then we're done.
Very well, I will try working with you on this. Dogtongue, how about holding back on the attacks until we hit the main force? No doubt there will be more blood you can shake a scythe at when it is over.
edit: Gerard, should we leave the horses tied up somewhere soon? We are going rather slow and going in stealthy will be vital
Thank you, Andrea. Maybe if the redcaps know someplace relatively safe... a cave, some out of the way grotto.
"The only other way I could help with getting a hold of the Mother would involve sending Frank as a messenger. That, while I live, probably won't happen."
She places her hands on her hips for a moment and then did something she'd never yet attempted. Her hair animated and she emulated a facial expression learned from the mother, herself.
Intimidate:
"Redcaps fie; You KNOW what is at stake here. Appease the manbeast and wasp or be watched, cursed, and otherwise dispatched. The regret shown at killing the satyr would not extend to you."
Answering Gerard's question about working as a team. "Mother needs her enemies dead, that is exactly what we are doing. Killing the enemy." The redcaps nod in agreement, "Kill them all. Now there's less enemies and they are weaker. When dead then you and Mother can talk." He seems pretty matter of fact as far as his mission.
Gerard seems impressed by the witch's display... and the hedgehog's.
He addresses Dogtongue. That is the reasoning of a stubborn goat, you are smarter than that. If you can't take orders speak to the tin can...
Your forest home can burn for all I care. If you don't care enough, I won't. Now, get out of my face... kill, be killed, whatever gets your little redcap rocks off.
Sensing the hostility Dogtonue asks, 'What's your plan."
You were supposed to be the eyes and ears... find information we can use, report back. Do you even realize what you did?
You told them where we are, if not exactly... approximately. If we stay around here any longer, we're screwed. Can you do the job or not?
Gerard pauses. I do not mean to lose my temper, Dogtongue. I respect you and your abilities... the ability of all these redcaps. But there is more at stake than just "killing for fun".
I promise you, you will have more to dip your cap in than you know. I will fight with you, side by side. When you bring us information about troops, size, positions, leaders... We can make a good plan. Please.
The rogue extends his arm for a warrior's embrace.
Gerard, let us see how many forces there are around Mother's tree. If we can contact The Mother we should do that. If not, we can launch an attack, we have magic that can take down large numbers such as Orsin's poison scrolls, Euphemia's magic and I have resources as well. The Redcaps can fight with us. Dogtongue, we do know they have wizards and priests like the ones who fireballed us when going to your camp, we need to find them and kill those quickly or else we will be charcoaled.
"yes, I know what we did we killed the usurpers and enemy of Mother."
"We will send two parties in opposite directions down the path looking for more enemy for you to...er, talk to. These chose not to talk, they were ornery." He motions to the bodies. [
Gerard nods. Sure, let's try again... Be safe, we want you to live. You probably don't get that much. Friends.
Now, go. And, do you know a "safe" place we can leave horses... a cave or something?
Walking up to the witch, Look... That was pretty forceful, and I appreciated you having my back. You too, Francis. But, the hair thing. Just gonna make me put more locks back in place. Smiling, Gerard gathers his horse and the spare.
Mount up.
Andrea mounts. Good job, Gerard.
Andrea mounts. Good job, Gerard.
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Andrea mounts. Good job, Gerard.
Thanks. I'm trying... sorry I snapped at you. Reaching back, he pats her thigh.
Euphemia reaches out tersely, but pulls her hand back, her face red despite bearing a serious expression yet again.
"Of course."
Sniffling, the hedgehog can't help but add:
Mistress, when he sees what your hair can actually do, he might let loose a bit of masonry.
The redcaps send two teams of three each in opposite directions. They have an understanding to gather information. It's getting real close to dusk and the smoke can be seen and smelled from your current location.
Flex-time, before mounting:
Gerard's eyebrows knit. He also looks to the hedgehog, as if insight could be found there. Did I offend? Did you wish to slap me?
The familiar yawns in his direction, showing tiny teeth expertly crafted for eating things that crawl in the night.
He has your number Gerard.
"Erm... no. I just thought I saw I miniature stirge on you, and thought I'd swat it off..."
She isn't offended, obviously, but there is no more a stirge on the rogue than a honey-drenched fairy dragon with a fruit hat. And her face is still beet red.
---
On zee road:
With big, nasty... teeth. Sorry, that was a rabbit... When this is over, maybe we'll get him a bag o' bugs.
Having stayed quiet through the fight and dealing with the redcaps since she wasn't much of a diplomat, Lucrezia resumes her roll of scout and tracker as she scans the road ahead.
By the encapsulator's great fifth tetrahedral... I dodged that bullet, Frank.
Euphemia sighs in relief; again with a lack of subtlety that made her hedgehog flinch.
You figure your about a mile away from the center of hagwood and Mother's Maggot tree. From the smell of burning young cord wood you certainly know that the smokiness is intentional and highly effective to keep any swarms at bay. The smell and smoke makes the critters lethargic.
From your scouting you figure that a larger force has moved to the path to the left. There are also signs of a scouting party very similar to the one you've already defeated that crossed paths with the larger force. The scouting party is heading to the right. Then on the other side of the trial a 500 feet there are is fresh chopped clearing of cordwood which you know is especially smoky when burned. There is actually well trampled secondary path that intersects with the main path.
After considering the myriad tracks about the trail, Lucrezia consults the group.
"Well, it looks like a larger number of troops has moved to the path to the left. There are also signs of a scouting party very similar to the one that beat earlier that crosses paths with the larger force. The scouting party is heading to the right."
"So, shall we go after the smaller group first to keep whittling down their numbers or trail after the larger group?"
Which force moves towards the Tree? Do the tracks speak of numbers or party makeup?
The witch and her familiar sniff at the air at the same time.
"We're running out of time. The mother's main forces will be crippled by this smoke... At least we're only a mile away from the Maggot Tree..."
Andrea ponders. It is getting closer to dark and we don't know how much time we have left before The Mother is overcome. We might have an advantage if we head in under the cover of darkness but I believe only Lucrezia and Daniel have no problems with poor lighting.
Andrea looks to Lucrezia. Cutting down their numbers sounds good, but we will be exhusting our resources so this expidition will take more than a day no doubt.
Lucrezia believes the path circles around the tree, at least at this point it seems that's plausible. Almost as if the path marks an outside boundary.
"Well, I suppose it is also a possibility that if we take out the main force, then the smaller ones would flee rather than stay and fight. If we really are just a mile from the tree, then I suppose heading after the large force going in that direction would be the best choice."
We need the redcaps to report. Plan stays the same... We take out the leaders. Ex-dottari and halfling wizard.
Lcurezia can't count footsteps but it was sizable several time the size of the scouting party. The area is very well trampled over.
Let's not wait, follow the larger force but do not engage. Look out for a rear guard, and set up a rear guard of our own.
Anyone have an idea of what to leave the redcaps as markers?