When Liz heds out with Zeph, she tries to gain some info on what has been going on with the conflict with the drow and the surrounding area.
Zephram nods, "Quiet observation is best... the very presence of the observer changes things, otherwise."
There are surprisingly fewer people about than there were when you came in. Again, there are knots of people who are attracted to your presence, gathering at a respectful distance and gossip to each other about each of you.
Nakoda is somewhat frustrated, as the weaponmaster she found either did not or would not speak anything other than elven.
He took pity on her though, and showed her a training alley. Rotating dummies with various practice weapons covered in colored chalk were placed at various distances and heights. When you hit them, or they hit you, the rotation rates, heights and angles of the other dummies would change. To gain a score, you had to walk down the alleyway to the other end and hit them along the way, if they hit you, score would be deducted.
Zephram and Liz are able to engage several of the elves in conversation.
They are wary at first, but Zephram is able to coax the elves to speak of their experiences.
It seems that disappearances had occurred starting more than a century ago. Eventually discovering their dark elven kin had occupied the ancient elven city of Celwinvian, the elves rallied and eventually recaptured the city. But barely two days later, the dark elves stormed back, erupting out of many places once thought secured. Probably from tunnels leading up from the underdark.
This same pattern occurred twice more before the elves settled for a strategy of containment, while the dark elves made bloody probes to find a way out. This strategic balance has lasted to this day.
Rather strange they can just pop out like that, perhaps some teleportation magic. Liz scratches her chin.
Liz takes a shot at the training dummies
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
When Liz took the alleyway challenge,
Miss.
Miss.
Miss.
Miss.
Hit! for nonlethal.
Hit! for nonlethal.
Hit! for nonlethal.
Miss.
Hit! for nonlethal.
Hit! for nonlethal.
The alleyway grew more difficult as Liz went along; The weaponmaster used a formula to calculate positive points when you hit, and negative points when you are hit. Liz scored an overall 1, which he regarded as slightly above average.
When Nakoda took the alleyway challenge,
Miss.
Miss.
Miss.
Miss.
Hit! for nonlethal.
Hit! for nonlethal.
Hit! for nonlethal.
Hit! for nonlethal.
Hit! for nonlethal.
Hit! for nonlethal.
The alleyway grew more difficult as Nakoda went along; The weaponmaster used a formula to calculate positive points when you hit, and negative points when you are hit. Nakoda scored an overall -2, which he regarded as about average.
The Weaponmaster seemed surprised that you both did well enough to be scored average, what with your being human disadvantage. He urged you to continue practicing and to return again when you have more experience.
When you ask, the Weaponmaster is certain that there is going to be another attack on the city, perhaps there was new information that would allow recapturing the City once and for all.
Visiting the clothier, you gained no new information; but you did gain several clothing articles of elven style. There are also camouflage options if you desire.
Eventually you decide to retire for the evening, and nothing untoward occurs during the night.
In the morning, Kaerishiel arrives with a small host of his guards and asks you to accompany him to Eviana.
Returning to the lodge, you find the leader of Crying Leaf dressed in a resplendent suit of shining elven chainmail. There are a number of other elves here as well, similarly dressed, poring over large maps of the forest.
Eviana stood up straight and spoke directly to you.
“We have come to a decision,” Eviana began, looking both tired and grim. “We are going to war. The information you have provided us has convinced me that we might be able to drive the drow out of our city entirely. Further, I have decided that you might play a useful role in this effort. Our numbers are few and the drow are entrenched. Since you already have experience dealing with the drow, your assistance would be quite valuable.
"What say you? Will you help us?”
I'm agreeable to doing it.
Eviana bowed to you.
"Thank you for your help. I fear much more will be asked of you before the battle is over.
"If you will return to your lodge, please make what preparations you can before we depart. I have some final preparations before we move out." She said, waiving at Kaerishiel.
Kaerishiel escorts you back to their lodge in silence, refusing to speak to you.
When the lodge is in sight, he points and says, “I think you can find your way from here. I am done guiding you. You have no idea of the danger you have walked into.” With that, he storms off to prepare his men for the journey.
The fighting forces of Crying Leaf take another 4 hours to fully mobilize.
You are left to your own devices during this time, allowing you to pack up for the journey with ease. Further purchases are impossible at this time, as all the stores are closed (and even look empty if you peek inside.)
Just after noon, the elves are ready to depart. One of the Shin'korath scouts is sent to guide you.
Liz rolls her eyes at Kaerishiel and gets her gear ready for the journey, silently slipping behind the guide when he arrives.
With the army of several hundred elves assembled, Kaerishiel blows a single note from his horn and the march begins.
The army does not march in a classic column—rather, the elves break apart into small groups of four to six, both to make moving through the forest less onerous and to present the enemy, if they are encountered, with smaller groups to target.
The journey to Celwynvian takes just over a day to complete, requiring the group to camp in the forest roughly halfway to the ruined city. The journey is largely without event, as the natural predators of the forest are quick to hide or move aside against such a large mobilization of elves.
As the second day of the march begins, the first sign of an abandoned civilization manifests in the form of an ancient road of overgrown marble stones that leads to Celwynvian. While tangled, this path still allows for much faster travel than any other route. The road leads to a clearing just half a mile from the ruins where many of the scouts and skirmishers currently watching over the city hold a temporary camp.
The forest still blocks any view of Celwynvian, but half-crumbled pillars and eroded foundations testify to the site’s proximity.
The elves spend the rest of the day setting up camp and perimeter watches. Eviana’s pavilion is in the middle of the camp, with Kaerishiel’s closer to the edge.
Your Company is given a spot not far from Eviana’s to make your camp, and you are supplied with simple green tents if you do not have any of your own.
Just before dusk, one of Eviana’s guards comes to inform you that the lady has requested your presence at dinner to go over plans and
your role in the struggle.
Prepare for sudden yet inevitable betrayal!
Given a few minutes to prepare, you followed Alrathien to the war pavilion to see Eviana seated at a large table with Kaerishiel, a host of her personal guard, and several important-looking elves in gleaming armor. After greeting you and pointing to a set of seats reserved for you, Eviana introduced the other elves as the leaders of the Celwynvian Watch, a group that has been patrolling the edge of the city for the past few years in an attempt to keep the drow bottled up inside.
That group is led by an elven ranger named Shalelu Andosana, an attractive elf-woman who seems strangely at ease in the war pavilion, despite the grungy leathers she wore.
Dinner was a plain affair of steamed turnips, potatoes, and carrots, served with a light vegetable broth and some simple bread. A sweet wine was served as well, a light and fruity concoction, but only in moderation. The food was eaten in silence, or with topics that weren't related to the war. Every time someone tried to speak of conflict, Eviana would turn the conversation to discussions of the local flora and fauna, or the geography of the surrounding forest.
After the food had been cleared, Eviana said "To business."
She spread a map across the cleared table, a map of an obviously ruined city. "Shalelu, please tell our allies here what they are looking at."
Shalelu nodded and took up a long stick. "This is a map of Celwynvian, at least from what our years of scouting and spying can tell. I based the original on old Kyonin records, and then updated it as I could from there. In some cases, I've had to make educated guesses as to the condition of the streets and buildings from afar. The streets are patrolled by both drow and demons, making detailed reconnaissance difficult. There are only a few unobstructed ways into the city, and we must secure them first if we are to have any chance of reclaiming the site."
"Based on the information in the journals you brought, we believe the drow refuge is located here, in what used to be the Academy of the Arts. It is well behind the enemy lines, and before we can assault that stronghold, we must take and hold the approaches and bring the army in as a whole. To do this, we will need to infiltrate a few raiding groups that will take and hold these gateways, allowing us to bring in the Host."
"That's where you come in," she said, looking right at the handful of you. "We have heard of your prior experience at fighting the drow, and that you have been more than resourceful in dealing with similar situations. Specifically, I think your group would be ideal to infiltrate here, what used to be the Library of Reenai."
Any idea on what defenses might be there?
"Or any specific vantage point they may hold from having the library?" Zane adds.
Suddenly Rezol is carried off by a giant bird!
HEY HEY HEY HEY!!!! Rezol isn't here any more! That is just some kinda magic!
"What the...??? A Major Image spell!" Zane exclaims.
The banquet is thrown into chaos as guards charge in, various spells are thrown at Rezol and sometimes contradictory orders are shouted. The image of Rezol pops like a soap-bubble under multiple Dispels, then the tent is plunged into darkness.
Liz is in shock! H.h.how?! Just when was Rezol yanked away from us and this thing cast in his place? Liz looks totally out of her depth with such a magical display.
Zephram perks up, "How very, very interesting. Someone must have had some powerful magic to create an illusion so sharp we did not notice it -- and across such a range." Sadly, I didn't mix up any divination extracts to better study this effect...
He turns to the elves and asks, "Does this seem to be the sort of tactic the drow would use? Shall we assume that they have anticipated our approach and are already taking countermeasures? Could their illusory duplicate of Rezol been listening in on our plans?"
Well what are we gunna do now? I mean one of our own just up and got snatched right out form under our noses.
Does this seem to be the sort of tactic the drow would use?
Elves discussing that very thing nod gravely. "That, and more."
Shall we assume that they have anticipated our approach and are already taking countermeasures?
They shook their heads. "Some, yes, but they have not heard the true details. This could actually work to our favor..."
Could their illusory duplicate of Rezol been listening in on our plans?
Then nodded with certainty. "Yes."
After some commotion had died down, the lights were reestablished.
After you are scanned, detected and wanded, Eviana conferred with a circle of elven sorcerers, then she spoke to all assembled.
"Attention! It is clear that the image of Rezol was used to spy on us. Sentries heard the sound of wings retreating when the image was dispelled; so we conclude that a winged familiar of some kind was used to relay the spell to its master, who is probably still in Celwynvian.
"But it is also certain that the replaced Rezol sometime after he entered the forest, but before he came into Crying Leaf.
"Unfortunately, it heard and saw everything you did.
"Fortunately, we caught it before we discussed truly secret information." She smiled grimly. "They may have overplayed their hand with this.
"Because of this breach, we will have to shift our encampment after we conclude our discussions here tonight. Let us proceed." She spoke, then gestured for you all to take your places again.
Liz takes her seat.
Eviana spread a map across the cleared table, a map of an obviously ruined city. "Shalelu, please tell our allies here what they are looking at."
Shalelu nodded and took up a long stick. "This is a map of Celwynvian, at least from what our years of scouting and spying can tell. I based the original on old Kyonin records, and then updated it as I could from there. In some cases, I've had to make educated guesses as to the condition of the streets and buildings from afar."
She pointed again with the stick.
"The streets are patrolled by both drow and demons, making detailed reconnaissance difficult. There are only a few unobstructed ways into the city, and we must secure them first if we are to have any chance of reclaiming the site."
"Based on the information in the journals you brought, we believe the drow refuge is located here, in what used to be the Academy of the Arts. It is well behind the enemy lines, and before we can assault that stronghold, we must take and hold the approaches and bring the army in as a whole. To do this, we will need to infiltrate a few raiding groups that will take and hold these gateways, allowing us to bring in the Host."
"That's where you come in," she said, looking right at the handful of you. "We have heard of your prior experience at fighting the drow, and that you have been more than resourceful in dealing with similar situations. Specifically, I think your group would be ideal to infiltrate here, what used to be the Library of Reenai." She pointed.
Eviana looked to Shalelu, who said, "As with most gateways, the library sits at a natural choke point in the ruins and vegetation. While our army has trained on large-scale tactics, we have very few groups trained in small scale tactics. Since we intend to hit several key installations at once, we thought that your prior expertise in assaulting the drow force in the sea caves would give you the experience necessary to take the library, while our other raiders take the other points."
"As for infiltrate, perhaps that word implies more than I meant. I simply meant that you should be able to assault the library with a relatively small group, take care of the guard forces left there, and hold the location until a larger force arrives. Was that the wrong word to use?"
Kaerishiel spoke up, "I did say these mercenaries wouldn't be able to handle this duty.
"Their incompetence allowed a drow sorcerer to spy on our most confidential strategic discussions!
"Let the Shin'Rakorath assault all of the initial locations. We do not need help from these outsiders.
"This is an elven conflict, no matter the implications for the rest of the world!" He said urgently.
Liz was very troubled and couldn't think of anything to prove Kaerishiel wrong.
Zephram turns his eyes to Kaerishiel and says, "I was not tasked with ensuring this meeting be secure and safe, and so fully reject your accusation of incompetence. It would seem that Rezol allowed himself to be killed, presumably by a powerful illusionist and sorcerer, while under the care and watch of elves. However, attempting to lay responsibility for this act on anyone other than the drow sorcerer seems quite illogical. "
He looks back at the map, nodding, then asks, "This talk of demons is worrisome. Know you what manner of demons are with them? The powerful ones would be far beyond my skill, and I lack a cold iron blade to deal even with the lesser ones. "
Liz just waits for the explosion.
Zane cannot help but grin slightly at Nakoda's words. When she showed her fangs it was definitely a thing to behold.
"Not to mention that this all happened after we were under your supervision, and if you really wish to highlight failure, your vigilance somehow allowed a Drow plant within arm's length of the Lady Evianna. Your vehemence seems more geared towards saving face in that light, does it not?"
When the flash popped, the startled elf had his sword halfway out of its sheath.
Infuriated, he responded to Nakoda.
"Word will spread how the Elven nation dealt with a threat to the world DESPITE your incompetence!"
And to Zane; "Which only occurred with your CONSIDERABLE and WILLING ASSISTANCE..." He began hotly.
Eviana shouted the Command, the words reverberating right through your body. Everyone in the tent stopped.
In the ringing silence Eviana stepped forward, an icy fury palpable in the air.
Stopping in front of Nakoda, her eyes bored holes into the Skald.
"I would first like to... insist... everyone here to keep their spells to themselves." She said pointedly.
Turning to glare at Kaerishiel, she reached out to touch the pommel of his sword, and slowly pushed it back into its scabbard with a snik.
"And to keep their weapons in their sheathes."
She turned suddenly on all of you.
"ALL OF US!
"Our enemy fooled EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. OF. US!"
"Humiliation is abundant this evening. Swallow it down, there is more than enough for EVERYBODY. Relearn the same lesson we have every week for the last century. Our enemy is Intelligent, and Powerful. And he has scored a victory this eve.
"Allowing ourselves to be riven apart with backbiting is to GIVE him ANOTHER!
"I am not inclined to give it to him. Are you?"
"No, I certainly am not, and neither are my companions. If we were we would not have come all this way." Zane says calmly. "You are right."
I am not inclined. Liz replies.
Zephram nods, catching himself before annoyedly saying, Yes, that's what I just said.... He coughs to cover the stutter, then says, "I am not so inclined. As I said earlier, the blame here lies with the enemy, and attempting to place it elsewhere is simply illogical. In a more constructive vein, given that the deception has been found, I would be inclined to suggest that we take advantage of having discovered the deception. It seems the best way to make up for the loss of Rezol... just as killing as many of these violet-skinned fiends is the best way to honour his memory."
Eviana nodded at you all, clearly the unity shown. She motioned to one of the scouts.
"Shalelu was just about to speak of what we do know, and then we can bring the raiding teams together, as was planned before you spoke up. Fear not, no one minds questions being brought to the fore, as long as everyone involved has an open mind. Shalelu?"
Shalelu spoke, catching Zephram's eye with a twinkle in her own as she did. You're not sure, but you think she approved of his reasoning.
"Here's a summary of what we know. I can go into more details as you have questions.
"First, let me say that while we are fairly certain that we outnumber the drow here, we are less certain of their full numbers. By counting patrols, identifying individuals through clothing and appearance, we have a rough count. At least of those that are in Celwynvian proper. We have managed to push them back into the heart of the city several times, but each time they disappear and then reappear in our rear some time later."
"Second, as is expected, the drow patrol the city streets regularly after dark, usually with multiple groups in overlapping routes. Demons patrol with the drow, as well as on their own. We have also seen a few instances of demons disobeying drow commands, though no outright violence between the groups.
"And one more thing. I am fairly sure that my scouts have found dragon sign in the area. None have reported contact with the creature, but with all of our losses...well, you can guess the rest."
"Third; One of the buildings on the north side of the city, the one marked as Yuleral's Rain on the map, belches noxious fumes day and night. According to our research, it used to be an arcanists' building, used for all sorts of magical research."
"And that brings us back around to the synchronized raids. The best approach for the bulk of the army is the road that runs right by the library. The one we want you to take. My scouts and Kaerishnial's forces will be attacking locations here, here, and here, followed by smaller segments of the army." she pointed to areas on the southern and western portion of Celwynvian.
"We will have the rest of the scouts and raiders running ahead of the armies to flush any drow scouts before they can note our plans. The library must be taken and held until the army gets in place, and we can make a stronghold, cutting off the drow avenues of escape from Celwynvian. Well, the mundane avenues, anyways.
"We had intended to do this with our Leaf Raiders. Unfortunately, we lost too many in the attack on Crying Leaf last week. This is why, I believe, that the elders have countenanced your presences, and even have asked you for your aid." She looked at Eviana, who nodded.
So we should try to play to our talents and do a fast, sneaky attack on any drow there. We've lost our front line warrior and need to be more stealthy about this, take out isolated guards as much as possible. Liz looks to her friends.
Kaerishiel spoke up, motioning for a brown and green clad elf to step forward.
"This is Sylvianna, one of our most experienced scouts. She has been assigned as our liaison with your mercenary company and will lead you to your initial start positions.
"When you start your infiltration is up to you, but our full force will attack when sunlight touches the tallest spire in Celwynvian.
"Needless to say, if you start too early and fumble it, you risk warning the enemy. If you start too late, you won't be able to take the building in time to clear the approach for our regular forces."
He does not sound very hopeful that you will perform adequately.
He turns and exits the tent.
Stepping forward Sylvianna gives the group a curt nod, taking the moment to greet each of them with an appraising gaze. Dressed in brown and green lacquered chainmail, and wearing a gently curved short sword on each hip, the slender yet shapely elf moves with a predatory ease that makes it clear she is a warrior.
Liz nods to Sylvianna.Well we probably should start right away. She then turns to the others.Is everyone here ready?
Zephram nods, "Starting sooner, rather than later, is likely wise. Especially given that Liz and I can probably scout ahead to help get our timing right."
That ok with folks? Zeph and I out ahead and maybe using magic to talk back.