Nodding, then looking toward Solrisa. He winks at Ascaria at the mention of running back.
"Sneaking can begin as soon as I've gotten my bearings. And don't you worry Solrisa, if I come a running that shiny new sword of yours will be sure to see some action."
"Sol, stop and think won't you?"
Solrisa stops her walking to spin and walk to Ascaria. Leaning down to the gnome's face. She is not smiling.
"Ascaria, you will keep your voice nice and polite with me and I will do the same for you, okay?" Solrisa tries to end her words in a positive tone.
"I'm quite capable of negotiating, you know. Which is what I said when I was about to go...my sword is always my second weapon after my smile, Solrisa corrects the very very wrong gnome. "Now, if they wish to go explore they may."
Solrisa ends again in a smile.
"Thanks for your understanding, Ascaria, I'm sure we won't have to talk like this again," Solrisa spins to Allustan. "What do we want to do while we wait?"
Solrisa stops her walking to spin and walk to Ascaria. Leaning down to the gnome's face. She is not smiling.
"Ascaria, you will keep your voice nice and polite with me and I will do the same for you, okay?" Solrisa tries to end her words in a positive tone.
"I'm quite capable of negotiating, you know. Which is what I said when I was about to go...my sword is always my second weapon after my smile, Solrisa corrects the very very wrong gnome. "Now, if they wish to go explore they may."
"Oh, I'm sure you can negotiate, but we might not need to do that. It maybe that there's a hole in the lines and we can just slip through. Or it may be that there's a big demon leading the lizard men, or something, and we can't negotiate."
"Look, you're in heavy armor and you shine like the sun. They'll see and hear you a mile away - forcing negotiations by voice or sword. We might not want that. With these two, unseen and unheard," he looks at them hopefully, wishing his words ring true, "we still have options is all. I certainly didn't mean to say you couldn't negotiate."
Solrisa ends again in a smile.
"Thanks for your understanding, Ascaria, I'm sure we won't have to talk like this again," Solrisa spins to Allustan. "What do we want to do while we wait?"
Ascaria looks around and shrugs, "I dunno. Let's turn the coach around and face away, in case we have to make haste out of here. Is it time for lunch?"
"Oh, it's nice Mort! It suits you! Twirl! Twirl!" Sol makes the twirly-twirly gesture to show Mort that he needs to twirl properly to show off the item, the accessory, or the outfit. It was important.
Because he meant the question rhetorically and doesn't really care, it takes Mortimer a few moments to understand what Solrisa wants him to do. When he finally does understand, he obliges.
' best to keep her smiling...Mortimer shrugs as Solrisa shoves the sack back at him.
"To be clear, I wasn't suggesting that you should change up what you do in combat. I just thought you might have a be more apt at utilizing the sack somehow than anyone else."
"[ shirt ] I've used it already. It's very nice; I just love it,"
Mort scratches his head in thought. "Oh, O.K. then. I'm glad for that." He shrugs again, and walks off with the haversack.
~~~
"No mention of a siege, Mortimer [ ... ] Why do you ask?"
"Oh, this siege could be really recent, is all," he says, looking away from Allustan. "Aside from the worm business, I hope her letters talked much about times you spent together. It's nice to reminisce despite the heavy stuff," he sighs heavily. Not that I would actually know from personal experience. "' you have any stories you might want to share?" Please Allustan -- give us some clue you know that it was the Marzena that you trust that sent those letters without me having to ask directly...
"[ ... ] They like simple weapons and numbers and prefer the warmth of day. Something about science and blood. [ ... ]"
Mortimer perks up when he hears this. "That is good to know. Maybe we can camp out until it cools down in the evening, then when they are slow and sleepy -- The Invisible Pair sneak in and sabotage their encampment and weapons. Maybe we can find some way for them to blame it on each other -- then sit back and watch them take out each other when the warm broad daylight returns."
"I'm wondering if the cult has some hand in displacing them, to put pressure on Blackwall Keep."
"Yah. O.K. My previous idea was not so great. Maybe we should just try to negotiate with them. They don't sound that irrational when you put it like that."
"Sol, stop and think won't you?"Solrisa stops her walking to spin and walk to Ascaria. Leaning down to the gnome's face. She is not smiling.
Mortimer cringes. Poor Ascaria. How much like Rae can Solrisa be? ... She's not going to take his head off, is she?
While waiting, he helps turn the coach around, then rearranges items in his backpack and haversack. For now, except for clay and comestibles, anything that can be thrown or quaffed is something he places into the haversack.
Tynan joins Hourpen in preparing to scout, grateful for another set of eyes. Tynan scans the terrain, concentrates on the magic of his hood, and changes the color of his clothing to match the scrub plants ahead.
"If we get spotted, we'll try to circle around to the south a bit, to lose them. If we can't shake them, we'll most definitely need your sword, Sol... and your fists, Mort. Eri, keep an eye out for us from topside, if you would."
...
Diamond Lake hosts the local Greysmere Covenant branch , of the dwarven stronghold to the south of the Mistmarsh. Dulok Blitzhame is the lead councilor, and is known to be good friends of Ragnolin Dourstone.
"What do we want to do while we wait?"
"Is it time for lunch?"
Allustan exits the coach as Maurice repositions it according to the gnome's practical suggestion. "A little early for lunch, but I suppose it's something to tend to while we wait. It may turn into a long day, depending on negotiations."
"I hope her letters talked much about times you spent together. It's nice to reminisce despite the heavy stuff. You have any stories you might want to share?"
Allustan looks askance at Mortimer. "Aside from her gathering of reports on these strange worms, that is all I wish to share with you regarding the letters' contents." The old man's look conveys complete withdrawal of permissions to inquire further.
Tynan and Hourpen slowly move into the treeline, doing their best to avoid making unwanted noises in the underbrush.
You travel carefully, taking the better part of an hour to arrive at a vantage point looking down into the grassy plain that abuts the hill on which the keep stands. Large sharpened wooden stakes jut out of the hillside, pointing away from the keep.
The keep itself is built out of black stone and consists of a single ground floor with a tower. The door to the keep (visible only from the south side) looks like it has been broken open and hastily repaired. On the level above the door a five-foot balcony extends outward.
As you observe for a period of time, you see ten groups of five lizardfolk are arranged in strategic places around the keep, using bushes, large rocks, and dead trees as cover. Each has a club, large shield, and at least one javelin. Some of them are eating horsemeat, and at least one is eating a dead human soldier. Three dead lizardfolk are out in the open near the keep, attracting flies. A hundred yards beyond the most distant ground of lizardfolk is a broad swath of grassland, and beyond that is the Mistmarsh.
It is impossible to reach the keep without passing the lizardfolk, and without the use of magic it seems a certainty that at least one of the lizardfolk will see anyone attempting to reach the keep, as there are no hiding places that lead all the way up to the keep.
...
Tynan and Hourpen return from their scouting, none the worse for wear, it seems. It has been the better part of two hours.
Thinking aloud as he and Tynan return, "Do you think maybe a distraction might pull a few of them to the perimeter? Where there is cover our number might not be discovered."
While Ascaria waits, he chats with Mort, Sol, and Eri.
"You know Mort, you may be onto something with those weapons. Diamond Lake hosts the local Greysmere Covenant branch, of the dwarven stronghold to the south of the Mistmarsh. Dulok Blitzhame is the lead councilor, and is known to be good friends of Ragnolin Dourstone."
"I wonder if that's where the weapons are going - to Ragnolin Dourstone?"
Sol waits, chit chats, and waits more.
Allustan looks askance at Mortimer. "Aside from her gathering of reports on these strange worms, that is all I wish to share with you regarding the letters' contents."
Embarrassed by his own indiscretion and doubt, Mortimer sheepishly looks away. "Of course, Allustan. I apologise." The look on his face tells me he knows it's her. ' good enough for me. He grins.
"Do you think maybe a distraction might pull a few of them to the perimeter? Where there is cover our number might not be discovered."
"What is it -- ? What are the Lizardmen doing? What did you see? Did you spot the leader?"
"I wonder if that's where the weapons are going - to Ragnolin Dourstone?"
Pondering this, Mortimer says, "Yeah, that's a possibility. Given that -- and that he commissioned them -- when would he have commissioned them, and for what purpose? If it were for Cultists in the mine, that might be a very disappointing meeting between Rangolin and the Four Dwarves."
He looks back in the direction of Diamond Lake, then back toward the Mistmarsh.
"... or maybe it's something else. Does anyone know how far out that Dwarven Stronghold is?"
"I think that's a sound idea, Hourpen."
Tynan relays to the rest of the group what was observed. "There were ten different groups of lizardfolk around the keep. Each group consisted of five of the beasts, and they all had the cover of bushes or large rocks to protect them from any archers who might be within the keep."
Tynan pauses briefly, remembering their grisly feast and continues.
"I'm thinking negotiations might not be an option... we could see that some were eating a dead horse, and at least one of the keep's men. Who knows how many others had already been devoured. Still, if at all possible, we should try to take one alive for questioning by Ascaria and his language spell."
"What Hourpen was suggesting, I believe, was to hide ourselves among the trees at the edge of the forest, and try to lure in a group at a time. Sol, your new sword will be tested, that's for sure. As will your gloves, Mort. Hourpen, did I mis anything?"
Ascaria shakes his head with wonder - "They were eating him? Man, if I do down, don't leave me behind to get eaten... that's horrible!"
Being somewhat creative he envisions lizard men eating him for a little while as his face contorts in various unpleasant ways.
"Still, if at all possible, we should try to take one alive for questioning by Ascaria and his language spell."
"Oh I can't talk to them, I can just understand them - not quite the same thing. I wouldn't be able to interrogate it, just listen to its musings. Not sure how that will help in this case."
"What Hourpen was suggesting, I believe, was to hide ourselves among the trees at the edge of the forest, and try to lure in a group at a time."
Ascaria looks at Hourpen, "So your solution is a military one? Makes sense. How many of these groups would we have to kill before we could get a wide enough path to make the keep? 'cause they're gonna notice, I think, if too many of their groups disappear."
"We could also try a distraction. We've done that before to great success and this lot will be even more distractible I should think. Not sure about how to approach it though. Maybe you two create the distraction on one side, while the rest of us rush in on the other side."
Ascaria sighs, "'Problem with that of course is it leaves you two outside. So that's no good."
He looks to the others for better suggestions then his own.
He looks to the others for better suggestions than his own.
Solrisa smiles, knowing the easy solution.
"I'll got them, Ascaria. I don't like that they were eating man and horse...that isn't very nice at all," Solrisa offers her horse to Maurice to hold and gets her shield ready. "I'll go that group, then maybe I'll get another one too."
Solrisa grins, happy to be of use.
"Your turn to stay and guard Allustan if you want, Hourpen & Tynan!"
Solrisa begins to walk towards the keep, then pauses, realizing she is being selfish.
"Mort, I'm sorry...did you want to come bash too? Any of the rest of you as well? I'm happy to share."
Solrisa waits to see who wants to come as well, then goes to find a group of lizardjerks.
"Might we move the group closer? Not to put our charge in danger, but to be nearer to those that intend to spring the trap. Incase things don't go as planned? If I am an acceptable guard I am happy to serve." Hourpen gives Tynan a knowing glance as he speaks his concern of being 'acceptable.'
If I must guard a man. Let him at least accept me as capable, if not his equal.
"There were ten different groups of lizardfolk around the keep. Each group consisted of five of the beasts [... ]"
Mortimer holds up his hand and uses his fingers to count. He gets to 10 and shakes his head. "That's uh -- a lot."
"Sol, your new sword will be tested, that's for sure. As will your gloves, Mort."
Huh? He looks down at his bare hands. Oh, maybe he saw me practicing with the amulet and mistook the fog effect for gloves. "How did you suggest someone of my stature accompanied by the blinding Sun Herself -- " he gestures to Solrisa in her full plate, "'hide' among the trees? ' last I checked, you're the only one with a fancy hat."
"Mort, I'm sorry...did you want to come bash too? Any of the rest of you as well? I'm happy to share."
"Yes, I do -- but just a second Sol," he says, jogging nearer to her before turning back to the party.
"Might we move the group closer? Not to put our charge in danger, but to be nearer to those that intend to spring the trap. In case things don't go as planned?"
"'In case things don't go as planned'? Which way might you be thinking that might happen?" He glances past the coach back down the road from whence they came, then back to Hourpen."I think we have a better shot of pulling this plan off under cover of night and from at least two different directions at one time -- but I don't think there's any way we're going to cause enough of a distraction to get the coach all the way past the lizardmen safely now.
If we have to do this now, I'm going with Solrisa. No hiding, just an up front full-on assault with everything we have. Given that, it's probably best you stay here and guard. With enough luck they're hungry enough, and we can pile up enough lizardmen corpses to keep them occupied when we need to regroup."
He looks to the Company for feedback.
"Wait just a minute you two - what's the rush?"
"Hourpen and Tynan, if we take out one or two groups, could we blast the carriage through? Also, are there more by the road - 'cause if not that's where we should focus our efforts I think."
"We don't want to just pile up a bunch of dead lizard men. We want to get through to the keep so we can see what's going on and get Allustan in there safely."
"Yes, Ascaria," Solrisa continues to march, presumably as the party moves closer to the Fort. "I agree with you that the best way to ensure safety to take out a few groups. If you want to wait here, I'll be right back. If you want to talk about how to do that, we can speak on the way."
The wind continues to blow from the south, renewing the smell of smoke and blood. It is all too recognizable. Maurice remains where he has been instructed to turn the coach around. He acts as skittish as the horses taking in the aroma of a battlefield, but thanks Mortimer for the assistance, nonetheless.
Tynan and Hourpen can relate the conditions of the grounds surrounding the keep. A singular road winds its way from the eastern direction, around the north face of the keep, and upwards to meet the southern door. It passes what looks to be a stable on the west side of the keep. The stable doors were smashed down. The treeline ends ten minutes walk from your current position, but that time diminishes as Solrisa continues walking in the keep's direction.
When you leave the treeline, you will cross two hundred yards of open field to gain the keep. The lizardfolk have set points surrounding the keep roughly one hundred yards from the keep.
You've never seen Allustan's spellbook, and he's never weaved magics in your presence for the purpose of aggression.
Perception check, please.
The Greysmere Stronghold exists several days south of the Mistmarsh, at the base of the Halikarnassos Hills. How many days travel through the Mistmarsh is varied in reports, but the distance by hawkline would two days' hard march.
"There were ten different groups of lizardfolk around the keep. Each group consisted of five of the beasts, and they all had the cover of bushes or large rocks to protect them from any archers who might be within the keep."
The coach begins to make quite a bit of noise, before Allustan steps from it. The old man's glasses are slightly askew, but he doesn't seem to notice, as he focuses on Tynan and his report. "What are you on about? It can't possibly be... that many..." He moves forward, while organizing papers in his satchel.
"The keep has never had to deal with that number in all the time I've corresponded with Marzena. This is serious. We need... help..." Allustan rifles through his belongings, before producing a scroll.
"You all... you must find a way to support the soldiers and Marzena here." Allustan starts to clutch at Eri's sleeve. "Please. You must. I will... I will bring reinforcements, but it will not quick, I'm afraid. I can return to Diamond Lake and petition the garrison." The old man swallows a couple of times to renew enough saliva to continue talking. "I... I... I'm sorry."
The old man turns his gaze to the scroll, turns his speech to its words. In an instant, Allustan is gone.
Allustan has cast Teleport.
Maurice speaks up. "Does that mean you don't need our travel services any more?" He almost looks hopeful.
When Eri sees Allustan emerge he begins to try to ask a barrage of questions, but stops himself when the soliloquy begins. He stands more sturdily when Allustan uses him for support. He opens his mouth but closes it yet again when the resounding poof carries his teacher away.
Whew. I don't know if I could have protected him.
"OK, let's get down to business
"Whoah boy, did you see that? Allustan just cast a Teleport! Flight of Swallows, this must be serious."
"If someone who can cast teleport is worried, then so should we be. I say we sent Maurice away. He can't help us, and I don't want to have to protect him. Without him and the coach, we've got more options."
"Whoah boy, did you see that? Allustan just cast a Teleport! Flight of Swallows, this must be serious."
Spellcraft
"Oh yeah, Ascaria! I see! Mum used to love that spell...didn't she, Rae?" Sol looks around for Rae, and frowns when she remembers that her sister is not here.
"Does that mean you don't need our travel services any more?"
Sol smiles at Maurice.
"Maurice, you can also wait here until I get back if you want to see the Keep. If not, you can go home. I'll take MemoRae from here."
Sol walks MemoRae closer to the fort, but not too close.
"I'm going to go get the first group of lizardmen. You guys let me know what you need when I get back."
Sol recommences her march to the first group, intent on putting an end to the human and horse eaters.
"Does that mean you don't need our travel services any more?"
"Go, if you must -- you do so at your own risk."
"Whoah boy, did you see that? Allustan just cast a Teleport!"
The old man swallows a couple of times to renew enough saliva to continue talking.
"I knew we should have packed more water."
He takes his horse and follows Solirsa, tapping Eri on the shoulder as he goes.
"Wait up, Sol I'm coming too." He secures Cinder along side MemoRae. "The Dwarves said 'swing wide, stay clear, and you should be fine.' I think that means they have reach -- at least to a Dwarf..." As they walk toward the field he glances at Eri over his shoulder. "Maybe we will flush some out of their lizardfolk holes."
"Hang on Sol -- I think I want to ride Cinder after all."
Mortimer runs back to retrieve his steed. He climbs back into the saddle and rejoins Sol.
Solrisa doesn't wait...but that's only because she knows that on Cindar Mort will easily catch up to her.
She walks with a cheery purpose.
Looks like I'm out of a job. And here I was going quite fond of the captain.
,
"What just happened and why are all of you in such a hurry?"
Hourpen moves toward the lizardfolk, staying as far from Solrisa as possible while still keeping her in view. Chasah flies within 30 feet of Hourpen, but closer to Solrisa.
Tynan watches Allustan disappear in the blink of an eye, and shakes his head.
So mush for us protecting him...
"What just happened and why are all of you in such a hurry?"
Tynan whispers to Hourpen in halfling, as the rest of the group traipses after Solrisa.
Tynan joins Hourpen in discretely following after the group, eyeing some of Hourpen's exceptional techniques.
"What just happened and why are all of you in such a hurry?"
"Allustan just teleported back to get the guard I think, didn't you just hear me say that?"
Frustrated that no one is listening to him, he tries again with Sol,
"Sol, it's a hundred yards of open country between you and the nearest lizard - are you sure you want to show them ALL we're here? Because unless they're all as blind as I am, you and Mort are going to stick out."
"You're not going to fight one or two lizard folk, you're going to fight forty or fifty and I don't think we can do that."
"We need a plan, we need to maybe approach at night, blast through their lines and head to the keep - see what's going on in there. We don't need a completely unsafe charge against an unknown foe. We have surprise - we have options!"
He struggles to keep up with his short legs as he makes his case. "Sol, I do not understand what your hurry is!"
He watches to see if he gets through to Sol.
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Eri keeps up with Mort and Sol, but nervously and with great hesitation.
"Um, hey. You guys will keep the lizards from clawing my eyes out, right? Right?"
He takes a couple more shuffling steps while he constantly turns his head this way and that. He tries not to stumble over his feet.
"Um, yeh, so maybe we should go back. We'll have an advantage if we attack at night. Also, I only have a layer of coarse cloth between me and those sharp teeth."
sheets
Eri looks at his list of attributes and fails to find
(1) One nice tall tree from which to harry the enemy
He does find
(1) One soon-to-be-soiled undergarments.
"Do you guys hear that? I think it's Canary. He's signing a nice little tune."
"Sol, it's a hundred yards of open country between you and the nearest lizard - are you sure you want to show them ALL we're here? Because unless they're all as blind as I am, you and Mort are going to stick out."
"You're not going to fight one or two lizard folk, you're going to fight forty or fifty and I don't think we can do that."
"We need a plan, we need to maybe approach at night, blast through their lines and head to the keep - see what's going on in there. We don't need a completely unsafe charge against an unknown foe. We have surprise - we have options!"
Sol stops a moment to look at Ascaria.
"What makes you think you are not being heard, Ascaria? I heard what you and Tynan and Hourpen have all said. They said that there isn't an obvious way to sneak in. Nor were they so close that we would have to engage them all at once," Sol beams brightly at Ascaria.
"Now, as for going at night, that's just silly as some of you can't even see well during the day, let alone at night. Why would we give them that advantage? Because they probably are like other bad things that see at night well. And if they see at night well, maybe they don't see as good under the bright sun!?" Sol smiles, making a good point.
Solrisa looks over at Eli and Hourpen, whom she doesn't know if they can protect themselves.
"I don't want to get them hurt either. They are friends of Allustan and so we should protect them too. And so...it's just me and Mort, and maybe Tynan if he wants to go get the bad lizardfolk," Solrisa points her new sword at the fort.
Solrisa turns again to Ascaria.
"Now, I'm not in a rush, but the people in the Fort might be hurting and I want to attack in the sun if I can. I like it when the sun is out," Solrisa looks about smiling.
"Ascaria, if you're worried, you can stay here and protect Eri and Hourpen. Mort and I can do this," Solrisa looks confidently at Ascaria.
Ascaria thinks about a nighttime raid. Good for him with his eyes, but the others will need light. Probably just as visible as the day.
"What about dusk then? There's no knowing if they can see well at night, but at dusk we might be able to get closer before they start to close in on us. Might mean fewer of the lizard folk attacking us before we get through."
Ascaria's not sure if that will work better either. Out of ideas, finally he too goes with the flow...
"If we're going, we're going as a group. The goal here is to punch through and rush the keep, right? We're not just sitting out here waiting for the whole lot to come to us. We kill a few, and run."
"Sol you should have your horse, or someone should. We shouldn't leave it out here to be found and eaten by the lizards."
Hourpen waits silently among the trees to see if Ascaria sensible speech has any impact.
"Sol, it's a hundred yards of open country between you and the nearest lizard - are you sure you want to show them ALL we're here?"
Mortimer suddenly halts Cinder's forward progress. "Wait, what?!" He looks down at his open hands and shakes his head. "That's quite a bit." Would make for a nice Polo field though.
"Um, yeh, so maybe we should go back. We'll have an advantage if we attack at night. Also, I only have a layer of coarse cloth between me and those sharp teeth."
Mortimer tilts his head slightly while looking at Eri out of the sides of his eyes in understanding.
Can't have anyone going in feeling like that."And if they see at night well, maybe they don't see as good under the bright sun!?"
"That's a good point, Sol -- but we don't know that for sure. What we do know for sure is the cold makes them slower. Whether they can see well at night or not -- I'd rather deal with them when they're vulnerable. Any advantage they'd have seeing would be negated by their sluggishness -- and you can always shine light into their faces."
He thinks for a moment.
"Hey, Hourp-- Where'd he go?" He continues, assuming the Slip is within earshot. "Can he get close enough to the Keep with Chasah to have her deliver a message to Marzena within -- preferably on official Garrison stationary -- briefly explaining Allustan's and our new new errands? We could suggest they cause a distraction for us -- at dusk or just after when it cools down like Ascaria suggested. We could make our move while some of the Lizardfolk are being distracted and the whole lot is groggy from the cold."
He turns Cinder to face Sol. "What do you think Solrisa? I think there's just too many of them for -- just you, me and Cinder. It's not as though they're evil necessarily, and besides --" he frowns slightly, "it sounds like we might be under dressed. We should take more time to prepare."
"Sol, it's a hundred yards of open country between you and the nearest lizard - are you sure you want to show them ALL we're here?""Can he get close enough to the Keep with Chasah to have her deliver a message to Marzena within -- preferably on official Garrison stationary -- briefly explaining Allustan's and our new new errands? We could suggest they cause a distraction for us -- at dusk or just after when it cools down like Ascaria suggested. We could make our move while some of the Lizardfolk are being distracted and the whole lot is groggy from the cold."
"What do you think Solrisa? I think there's just too many of them for -- just you, me and Cinder. It's not as though they're evil necessarily, and besides --"
Solrisa pauses, thinking and listening to Mort.
"I guess we won't know until we get closer. I lot of the things you say could work, but it's so hard to know. I think we can decide better when we know more. Without seeing for ourselves, not really sure what is going to be best now, do we?"
Solrisa marches more.
"You know Mort, I'd like to attack them when it is sunny. I do like the sun," Solrisa confirms. "What makes you think the lizards get groggy in the cold?" Solrisa wonders.
"I guess we won't know until we get closer. I lot of the things you say could work, but it's so hard to know. I think we can decide better when we know more. Without seeing for ourselves, not really sure what is going to be best now, do we?"
"Oh, of course! There's uh -- " says Mort, looking around at everyone and then for some. "a lot we don't know, Miss Solrisa. You're right, it makes sense for anyone who wants to -- to see for themselves before deciding," he says dismounting Cinder. "I'll go with you -- to see."
"You know Mort, I'd like to attack them when it is sunny. I do like the sun," Solrisa confirms. "What makes you think the lizards get groggy in the cold?" Solrisa wonders.
"I'm very fond of The Sun too. I don't like to work without it either. But then I like the rain, too -- it clears gunk and stuff off of you, and washes away swarms. I prefer to sleep when it's dark. I guess every kind of light or weather condition can be kind of fun, in it's own way." He pauses for a moment.
"I just thought -- when Eri said the Lizardfolk preferred the warmth of day -- that they were like snakes or salamanders. Surely you've seen them basking themselves on rocks?" Or maybe only people like me go looking for that sort of thing... Whether Sol responds or not, he blathers on marching with her, "Anyway, the salamanders and lizard things are more active to hunt and do, uh -- whatever they do -- after they've warmed up. It's probably best not to bother them when they're all warmed up like that or they're more likely to succeed in hurting you if they want to, is all," he concludes confidently.
"It would be nice to have help from the keep. When we get to 140' I can whisper to the folks on the wall. I worry that by then they'll know what's up anyway."
-----
"It appears as if the groups have moved since we were last here. They seem to have shifted their numbers to the south side of the keep. It MAY just be possible to sneak in if we approach from the north."
Solrisa smiles as things look much different than what she expected.
"They are not even surrounding the keep! It's more of a big happy smile!" Sol says.
"See, Mort! They are ringed in a happy smile!" Sol points to what Mort can likely see for himself.
Sol waits to see what the team wants to do...it's all so different.
Hourpen quietly nods at Tynan's implied suggestion.
Ascaria can’t see any map of any size, and asks someone to actually describe the situation.
Assuming someone does, he suggests, ”Well if they’re all bunched up to the south now, then we should totally approach from the north, and now, while they’re away. I worry that there’s a reason they’re not there - maybe they flooded the field with oil or something. I don’t know, but it’s worth a shot.”
”We need to get to the keep first Sol. We need to find out what’s going on here. If any lizard folk get in our way, by all means let’s drop ‘em, but let’s not go out of our way huh?”
”Also, I think Hourpen and I should ride, at least, or we’ll never make it over this tough ground. We’ll be too slow…”
If the two slow folks ride, we charge in from the north/northwest and shoot straight for the keep - Ascaria is all in. He doesn't think we can sneak over the open ground successfully - he thinks it will be more of a sneak->run.
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"Well if they’re all bunched up to the south now, then we should totally approach from the north, and now, while they’re away."
"Right, I'll go get the horses." Mortimer runs to retrieve both Cinder and MemoRae. He walks up to Sol and offers her MemoRae's reins while bowing. "Your horse, Miss Sol." He tries to suppress the grin inspired by his attempt to play the Squire, and fails miserably.
"Hourpen -- is your bird capable of carrying a message to the Keep to let them know of our pending arrival -- so they can prepare?"
He looks to Tynan for an assist in the event that Hourpen doesn't respond.
He sizes up the party.
"If everyone's agreed then, for balance, I think Hourpen should ride with Solrisa -- Ascaria with me. We should keep behind the trees for as long as possible before making the break for the road leading up to the Keep entrance -- this will save on energy, I hope, for those on foot. Once out in the open, keep close to those on foot just in case LizardFolk decide to come at us."
Looking toward Mortimer. "Chasah could carry something small. I can't promise that paper would be unharmed. Her talons are made for piercing flesh, not turning pages. Looking toward the others. I will ride with whoever will take me. Though I still think we could easily sneak closer coming from the north. Even the sharpest eye cannot see much from that distance. Unless these lizard folk have spy glasses or wizards among them."
"I'm ready for whatever.When we get close I'll whisper to the folks on the wall. Hmm. I wonder if I have something with Allustan's seal that is more durable than paper. Maybe that will be recognized by his friend beyond the wall." Eri searches though his gear for such a thing.
"Chasah could carry something small. I can't promise that paper would be unharmed. Her talons are made for piercing flesh, not turning pages."
"Let's take that chance, we'll give her something else to grip to which the paper is attached. Just don't ask her to read the letter." He winks. "As for sneaking, though it may be an option for some, it's not worth the risk to be missed by the Lizardfolk only to be mistaken for an intruder by the palace guards and picked off anyway. We really need to stick together on this one."
"Eri -- "
"I'm ready for whatever [ ... ] "
Mortimer grins. "Yes -- good thinking!"
To: Marzena
From: Allustan and Company
Marzena,
As you maybe aware, Sir Allustan commissioned a group of super talented warriors to escort him to Blackwell Keep so that he might consult with you on a matter of utmost importance -- one which we dare not mention in this medium. Unfortunately, we were not prepared for the Lizardfolk encampment about the Keep. Allustan has popped off to recruit reinforcements to rid the Keep of their presence, requesting that the Company find a way to help you and the denizens from within.
It is our honor an privilege to oblige Sir Allustan to serve you and the Keep in this endeavour. We plan to approach from due North, two horses, four on horseback -- a halfling, gnome, half-elf and human -- and two on foot -- both human. Please don't kill us when you see us flailing up the hill.
- Yours in Truth,
Solrisa, Ascaria, Eri, Hourpen, Tynan and Mortimer
Sol takes MemoRae's reins with a smile.
"Looks like things are different than before. No doubt we'll have an easy ride into the keep," Sol announces cheerfully mounting MemoRae again. She admires the ill-temper of the stallion as it reminded her of Rae.
She turns to Hourpen.
"Come along now, Hourpen!" Solrisa offers a gauntleted hand to the halfling. "Don't you worry, I'll keep you safe. I'm very good at protecting."
Solrisa will gently lift the halfling behind her, so that her steely mail and impossibly perfect breasts are between Hourpen and any projectile weapons.
"Okay, Hourpen," Solrisa says. "If there is bad trouble, I might get off to slow down the badness. If that happens, you just take MemoRae and ride to safety. Don't you worry about getting hurt."
Ascaria looks around him, "I'm not sure how 'super' we are but yeah that's fine Mort - let's send it. I don't want the fort lobbing rocks at us as we close."
Ascaria will tear off some paper, the back of which is a partial drawing of nested boxes, and copy down the letter (or whatever the company decides) in nice tight script so as to keep the letter small. He tears off any unused paper and stuffs the scrap back in his pack with the other detritus.
Once the party is ready, he mounts up with Mort. "Dunno my way around this thing so bear with me." he hangs on for dear life.
Eying Solaria cautiously, "Very well. Just don't be shocked if I disappear if things go awry. It isn't that I doubt your prowess with the blade, but I prefer the element of surprise. I'll make sure your MemoRae is safe."
-----
Tynan is relieved that the group has decided to approach from the north, and moves quickly beside the mounted folk. As a precaution, should the gate not be open, he pulls the magical coil of rope from his pack.
I hope we don't need to climb in, but best to be prepared.