Gillian offers a respectful bow to Eviana before rising and following Aishe outside. "What did you think of all that?" she asks softly. "It seems as if they have a specific task or tasks in mind for us. On the one hand, I appreciate having a clear goal and a general idea of how to achieve it. On the other hand, if they have specific tasks for us it means that they've already spent quite some time thinking of how best to put us to use, doesn't it? I'm not certain if I like that idea."
Nel nods to Eviana before rising from her seat. Just before she exits the room, she pulls out a small vial. "I think that the drow use some sort of potions to pledge their allegiance. We found this with Dephora's journal. It might come in handy " Gently placing the glass vial on the table, Nel turns to quickly join the others.
Glancing around at the city before lowering her voice to add in, Nel nods at Gillian's assessment. "I concur. This reeks of conspiracy and I don't like it. I'd also love to know why every time I pass someone, they all point at me like I'm some sort of animal at a zoo." Jerking her head towards a pair of elves whispering over her shoulder, Nel sighs heavily.
"They do seem to know more about us then we know about them. Perhaps they have spies in Riddleport."
He too is a little uneasy, but as the elves aren't pointing to him so much, he's more relaxed about it.
"I did notice that," Gillian admits. "Normally I would have thought it because of the...similarities...between you and them, but I also have the same similarities and haven't noticed much pointing and gawking directed at me. Well, no more than usual," she says with a slight smile. "Maybe you've made more of a name for yourself?"
Tamiro walks around the city with the others, taking in the sights. He seems entirely unconcerned with the close to unfriendly stares they are receiving, and stops a couple of times to pick up food, whether it was proffered or not.
Listening to the others, he chimes in with a grin, "Maybe they feel threatened that your obviously better than them? They do have to hire US after all. Not to say that we are poor buys, but...they are hiring US."
The meaning in Tamiro's words is not easy to misunderstand. They are after all vagabonds from Riddleport. Tamiro has been finding this entire situation incredibly amusing.
Eviana walks past the party with ease and grace, a pleasant smile flitting across her face as she passed.
Kaershiel, obviously disgruntled, sulks out of the lodge. “I suppose you are quite proud of your accomplishments. I have been urging Eviana to all-out war with the dark elves for months, but you have managed to push her to action almost by accident. I would not get comfortable; you will be leaving here soon.”
His scowl deepens. "I was told to show you around, but ,ost of the warriors are off on missions. We don't keep large barracks just waiting around. Most of our work is done through concentrated efforts of scouting bands. At any time, we have three to six dozen bands patrolling the borders, and more stationed in the surrounding woods. One of the bands will be returning shortly and resupplying if you wish to waste their time. As it is, you can find your way around the village easy enough. I'll leave you be."
After Kaershiel leaves, "He's not very happy. Do you think it's us, or is he just like that all the time?"
Aishe takes it easy. He has nothing to buy, not at least with the money he's got so far. As he's curious, he'll walk around the compound and will chat idly with anyone who seems interested. He doesn't go out of his way though. If folks look busy, he stays out of their way.
He does make a point of saying hello, and in elvish, to any he passes.
The passerbys start a little as Aishe speaks in elvish to them, but greet him warmly back in Elvish. They are less tense when speaking in their native tongue.
Sticking her tongue out at the retreating form of Kaershiel, Nel turns to Aishe. "He reminds me of the worst traits of the elves I apprenticed under in Magnimar." Tucking an errant strand of brown hair behind her slightly pointed ear, Nel lets out a laugh at Gillian's assessment.
"Nah, I'm not that important. I just got lucky, well maybe unlucky at this point. I haven't done anything to warrant rumors or whispers. That is unless you've heard something about me?" Nudging Gillian gently Nel lets out an amused chuckle as they continue to peruse the small town.
The witch doctor looks about, quietly taking note of the elven soldiers' deployment, and the camp's defenses.
Just before sundown, a group of elves bring a dinner of fire-roasted vegetables, bread and wine for the evening.
"Oh, I do not know what you all have done," one of them says with a sly, gossipy smile, "but you have put Kaerishiel in a right tizzy. I wouldn't pay him much mind, though. He's a bit of a stick in the mud."
The next morning, Kaerishiel and a small band of guards arrive to accompany you to Eviana, giving you plenty of time to prepare for the morning. In the lodge, Eviana is dressed in a resplendent suit of shining elven chainmail and is surrounded by elves poring over maps of the forest.
“We have come to a decision,” Eviana begins, 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. We would like you to be a scouting band in our forces and will brief you on the priorities with the other bands in Celwynvian. Nel, Erendriel says that you may find it particularly interesting that there is an ancient library within the city. What say you? Will you help us?”
"Of course, we are happy to pay you, granted that this will be as the battle progresses. Depending on the success, and how much we are able to take from the drow in spoils, we are happy to provide up to an item worth ten thousand gold to each of you."
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"Oh no, I've not heard anything specific about you - though keep in mind I was only in Riddleport for a short time," Gillian responds with a chuckle of her own. "Really though, I suppose we all stand out a bit around here," she adds, nodding at Aishe, Tamiro, and Orthrus for emphasis.
________________
"Well, that didn't take long," Gillian whispers to the others before raising her voice to address Eviana and her company. "I can't imagine any of us would have reason to do otherwise," she responds.
Not to mention the offer of payment should appeal to Tamiro and perhaps even our strange friend...
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"Oh no, I've not heard anything specific about you - though keep in mind I was only in Riddleport for a short time," Gillian responds with a chuckle of her own. "Really though, I suppose we all stand out a bit around here," she adds, nodding at Aishe, Tamiro, and Orthrus for emphasis.
At the nod Orthrus turns his head to look at who Gillian may have been talking about.
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"Will we also be able to keep what we find, or do we turn everything over to you, and get a piece at the end?" Aishe wonders.
"Details aside though, I think we're willing to help, but it's really up to Nel here." he says deferentially.
In his mind though, he's already spending the wealth. I wonder if they can improve my crossbow?
Tamiro grins widely, and clenches his fist, "Hai! Let's kill some dark elves and get paid!"
Looking over to Nel, he nods in agreement with Aishe, Orthrus, and Gillian.
Nel lets out a low whistle at quick turn over the lodge has made. Sparing a glance to the elves milling over maps, the cavalier quickly snaps to attention when addressed. "I see no issue with helping you rid Celwynvian of its pest problem. Can you provide us with a map of Celwynvian or the area surrounding it?
At the mention of a library Nel's eyes sparkle with excitement. "I do not know who this Erendriel is, but he apparently knows me well. Thank you for this information, I will do my best to recover this lost trove of knowledge." Offering Tamiro a double thumbs-up, Nel bounces slightly on the balls of her feet.
Aishe gets excited at the prospects of their new task, but worries he'll have enough bolts if they're stuck in the field for a very long time.
Accordingly, he heads over to the fletchers, and picks up what he can.
Eviana looks at Nel strangely, pauses for a moment, and then moves on. "We will leave as soon as you are prepared."
From the meeting, Kaerishiel escorts you back to your lodge in silence. As soon as the building is within sight, he points to it and states, "“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.” He then storms off.
Just after noon, the elves are ready to depart. Travel through the tangled wilds of the Mierani precludes horseback riding, and Eviana promises the you that if you wish to leave any mounts at Crying Leaf, they will be tended and well-cared for. 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 resent the enemy, if they are encountered, with smaller groups to target. The PCs are expected to form their own such skirmish group, but Kaerishiel is never far off, his distrusting gaze lingering on the PCs if they fall behind or otherwise get distracted along the way.
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. You are given a spot not far from Eviana’s to make their camp, and are supplied with simple green tents. Just before dusk, one of Eviana’s guards comes to inform you that the lady has requested their presence at dinner to go over plans and their role in the struggle.
Eviana smiles as you enter and gestures to an elf seated next to her. "This is Shalelu,"" Eviana says, introducing the rather pretty woman who seems at ease. "However, I'd prefer not to speak of war over dinner."
Dinner is a plain affair of steamed turnips, potatoes, and carrots, served in a light vegetable broth along with some simple bread. The wine is light and fruity, but it is served in moderation. Eviana, to her word, keeps the discussion light and about the flora and fauna in the area. After dinner is cleared away, soldiers bring forth a large map of the ruined city, unfurling it out onto the table. The elves look over the map for a moment, and then Eviana turns to Shalelu and, asks her to explain what they’re looking at.
Shalelu nods, then speaks. “This is a map of Celwynvian, based partially on old records from Kyonin and modified as appropriate to the current state of things. In some cases, we’ve had to make educated guesses as to the condition of streets and buildings from our observations, and much of the interior is not well known to us since venturing inside can be quite dangerous. The streets are patrolled by both drow and demons, making 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.”
The strategy is well-outlined. She lays out a plan to strike at the center of Celwynvian, a place called the Academy of the Arts—it is here that the journals claim the drow refuge is located. Unfortunately, the Academy of the Arts is well behind enemy lines, and before the final assault on the core can be attempted, all of the major roads into the city must be secured so that the army of Crying Leaf can be brought against the drow with ease.
Eviana explains that the best road into the city crosses in front of the ancient library of Reenai, and Shalelu reports that the drow have been using this building to watch over the road and prevent intruders from gaining easy access.
Eviana looks over your group. "We would like the you to infiltrate this structure and take out the drow hiding within while the rest of the forces attack other critical spots around the perimeter of the ruins. After this, the army will march inward, making
its way toward the Academy."
Since the interior is not well known, the plans get noticeably less organized from this point onward and most of the talk turns to contingencies. Shalelu provides the intelligence that she has gathered. Drow patrol the streets quite frequently after dark, usually with several groups on each route. The exact number of forces vary rapidly, with sometimes there being hundreds and other times the city nearly deserted. The drow prefer to use alchemical weapons delivered through crossbow bolts. There is a building on the northside of the city the spews noxious acid, obviously used for some foul purpose. There are a good number of demons within the city that appear to operate independently, though none of them have yet attacked any drow.
Finally, Shalelu pauses and says, 'Two days ago, a green dragon was spotted circling above the city. We haven't seen it since, but it is something to keep an eye on."
A ripple goes through the crowd and at least one person shouts, "Razorhorn". Shalelu's set face confirms these suspicions.
"Well," Eviana says personally to the band from Riddleport, "the assault begins tomorrow morning. Let me know if you have any questions regarding your role. Kaerishiel seems to think that you would be best put to use in guarding the base camp."
Finally, Shalelu pauses and says, 'Two days ago, a green dragon was spotted circling above the city. We haven't seen it since, but it is something to keep an eye on."
"Go in. Stir pot. Try not to be boiled, or come between soup, and cook. Got it."
Aishe smiles now that things are beginning to happen. He doesn't know what Kaerishiel's problem is, but clearly he doesn't want the group here. He resolves to just avoid him if he can, and stay below his radar.
He strives to keep up with the others, and keeps his crossbow out and ready for action during the approach.
He chuckles at Orthrus' observation of their role. He's not wrong. he thinks to himself.
I"m ready." he adds, to make sure there's no confusion. He hopes the dragon keeps it's distance. That could be tough.
"I suppose that's one way to put it," Gillian frowns in response to Orthrus. She then looks at the others. "Well, it seems as if this mission will take some finesse. Let's hope that we're up to the challenge, because I'd rather not end my story in the belly of that dragon."
The meeting disperses and plans are drawn up to make the first attack the next morning.
Just before dawn on the morning of the attack, the elven camp is a flurry of activity. The first groups leave well before dawn to reach their appointed battlefields, scattered around the outskirts of Celwynvian. Kaerishiel, who nudges their sleeping forms and shakes the tents, awakes you. He says little aside from “I hope you don’t plan on spending the entire battle unconscious,” before wandering off to join his own soldiers.
Leaving the ancient forest behind, the ruins of Celwynvian loom out of the morning fog like ancient bones. Gnarled trees and dense vines cover many of the crumbling structures, making for a strange landscape of leafy walls and verdant towers. Up ahead, a pair of weathered statues loom on either side of the path, marking the entrance to the city. Not far beyond them, a mostly intact library stands in the center of the road.
Orthrus looks over the road ahead for a very long time before turning to Aishe slapping him on the back and wishing him "Good luck."
Aishe rests fitfully until about 5am when he's up, and growing nervous about the day ahead. He doesn't know what to expect, but fears the dragon...
He lays in bed a while, before eventually getting up and preparing himself for battle. When he sees Celwynvian in the fog, he draws his crossbow, loads it, and has it at the ready.
When Orthrus slaps him on the back, he startles, but then smiles easily enough, "You too Orthrus. You too..."
He looks at the library, and immediately thinks of all the shooting lanes they must have. "I doubt we can stealth it. We should just run to the building as quickly as we can and hope their archers are sloppy, or sleepy. he grins.
"Do we head in the front door?" he asks the group.
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"Probably not," Gillian agrees with Aishe's observation. "But I might be able to offer us some cover as we go - we'll just need to be quick and make sure to stay together," she warns as she studies the dangerous path ahead. She'd slept surprisingly well the night before, but now that it was nearly time to begin their operation she found that her hands were shaking slightly.
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Nel is already awake when Kaerishiel makes his rounds, reading. She holds up one finger as she finishes her page, marking it with a small scrap of paper. Raising an eyebrow at him, she clears her throat befor taunting, "I didn't know that you cared, Kira." Rising from her mound of blankets and bedroll, Nel lets out a soft moan as she stretches. With a satisfying pop, the young cavalier begins to gather up her things, shoving books and inkwells back into her small rucksack.
As her hands brush something at the bottom of the bag, Nel furrows her brow before pulling out a scarlet scarf with gold stitching. For a moment, a look of longing crosses over her face as she runs a thumb over the stitching. "Ow!" she snaps, jolting her finger away from the scarf just as a small prick of blood begins to well up from her thumb. Sticking the appendage into her mouth to suck on it, Nel flips her kapina over, to investigate. With a look of realization, she spot the hidden needle, still attached to the scarf by a strand of gold thread. "Mom..." Nel murmurs to herself as she follows the strand back to where it ended, Nel traces the name still half complete fourteen years later. ...iel
Snapping to attention as she hears Kaerishiel jostle Tamiro's and Aishe's tent, Nel quickly refolds her scarf before placing it with care into her bag. Pulling on her normal under-armor wear, Nel collects her armor and heads out to help Tamrio with his armor, and get help with placing her full plate on.
Nel nods to Aishe and Gillian at their observations. "I agree, I am not great at moving undetected, so anything that can help mask some of my movements would be appreciated. I hope that the drow are not too dug in, but I have confidence in our abilities." Hefting her rucksack onto her back, Nel looks at her small group. "Is everyone ready to move out?"
Aishe nods, "Ready Nel!"
He readies to advance under cover of Obscuring Mist.
"Ready here," Gillian nods. "I can't move the mist with me but I should be able to use the cover of one to conjure up another - that should keep us somewhat safe from arrows if nothing else."
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Tamiro grumbles at the tent's jostling and rolls over to get up. Pulling some of his clothing and leathers, he checks his blades are sharpened and the scabbards oiled. He takes a minute to do a quick check over of his armor as well. Stepping out of the tent he begins putting on his armor, but finding Nel requesting some aid he makes sure to outfit her first in her armor and then accepts the help of getting his armor set up.
"Any cover against archers I think would be good. Arrows are a bit annoying."
Cinching his scabards down, he draws one of them and nods "Hai!".
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Hmmm. No horses. I should have brought more rations....
Gillian's mist blends in with morning fog, providing a thick cover the blends with the natural climate. The walk through the morning to the library is clear, with only the occasional crunch of frost-covered grasses underfoot breaking the silence.
Most of the outer walls of this ancient stone building remain intact, but they show serious signs of damage and decay. Small piles of rubble litter the ground and twisting creeper vines cling to the pitted surface.
(mist bonus)
Aishe clings to the deeper areas of the mist when he can, closing with the building slowly so as not to reveal his position.
When he sees some drow on top of the building, he moves to each party member and whispers to them, "Four drow on the roof with bows drawn."
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Despite the whole thing being her brilliant plan, it's one that Gillian has apparently never truly put into practice in the past. Try as she might, she can't keep her armor from jingling and clanking as they creep down the street and even the sight granted by her elven blood isn't enough to see much more than a few feet in front of her.
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Clattering her way from cover to cover, at one point Nel slams into Gillian, knocking both half-elves over. "Sorry!" she whispers out, feeling the hair on the back of her neck stick up.
Wearing his copper, and steel soldier-man-dress, wood sandals, and 70 pounds of gear in his magical haversack, and of course his huge tower shield of a mask, Orthrus doesn't make a sound. But one could imagine him hearing the collision.
Gillian and Nel not get stealthy half of elf then.
From atop the library, the silence is broken by a conversation in Elvish.
"Do you hear that?"
"Huh, hear what?"
"I think there's something out there. It sounds like someone walking in armor, but I can't see them."
Aishe continues to approach as swiftly as he can while being quiet. They're confused - it's working! They know not what they face. he grins.
He watches for an opportunity to shoot though too - especially if he manages to get within 30' of a target.
Gillian freezes, not especially surprised by the guards' alertness considering all the noise she and Nel had been making. The mist would hold for a time at least and perhaps by holding her position the drow would lose interest...or blunder right into them.
She listens, trying to determine if any of them are approaching their position.
_________
Continuing to move as silently as he can through the fog, Tamiro raises his blade, keeping it ready. He wants to try and at least capture the drow unaware. He continues to move forward, hoping to leap on the first drow he can find and dispatch it as quickly as possible.
Conditions = None
Weapon Equipped = Crossbow
Silver Blanch, Cold Iron Bolts = 19/20
+1, Frost, Bolts = 20/20
+1 Bolts = 10/10
Ghost Salt, Cold iron Bolts = 10/10
Ranged: Attack: BAB +7/2, Dex +6, Magic +2, Weapon Focus +1, (Rapid Shot -2), (Deadly Aim -2) Damage: Dex +6, Magic +2, (Deadly Aim +4)
Melee: Attack: BAB +7/2, Str +0 Damage: +0
Grit = 3/4
Ranger Focus = (+2) 1/1
Quick Runner’s Shirt = 1/1
Spells (caster level 1, concentration +2, DC 11+)
At Will: Prestidigitation, Detect Magic
1/day: Detect Secret Doors, True Strike
If Aishe can get all the way to the building safely, he does. He then gestures up to the others and whispers, "We should deal with this lot now."
If the group agrees, he steps out until he can 'just' see one of the drow (improved cover), and shoots to get his attention! He uses a bit of grit to ensure a clean hit.*
After waiting a few moments for the coast to be clear, Gillian painstakingly creeps forward again for the safety of the building.
Once she catches up to Aishe and the others, she nods in agreement with his wisdom. "Right, we don't want them getting the drop on us later. If need be I think I can blanket this area with magical silence - they'll know something is amiss but it might keep the noise from reaching other patrols nearby. Er...but we won't be able to hear anything or each other either, so it's not without some risk..."
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Brown and Blue Drow
Aishe, Nel, Tamiro
Green and Yellow
Gillian and Orthus
Round One - Surprise
The four drow on the roof of the library each stand facing a different cardinal direction, keeping an obvious watch.
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As much as she's tempted to make a spectacle of things while they have the element of surprise, Gillian decides that a fireball opening salvo might be a little too much in this case. Instead, she decides to try and add to the confusion by silencing the area where the patrol is set up.
_________
Under cover of the mist, Ortrus moves forward smacking Tamiro on the boot, hoping the man will follow.
Nel pulls her shortbow from her bag, preparing for the coming conflict. Tamiro, approaches the base of the tower, scouting for a way up.
Aishe's bolt flies through the air, thudding into the one on the north end of the tower and causing her to fall off with a sickening thud. The rest of the drow stand at the top, unaware of the sound of combat due to Gillian's magic.
Initiative - Round 1
Brown [-7] and Blue Drow
Aishe, Nel, Tamiro
Green and Yellow
Gillian and Orthus
The drow on the southern end of the tower turns around and and starts as she notices the missing guard. She attempts to call out, but again the magical silence. She draws her hand crossbow, alert to the danger in thefog.
Round: 1, Initiative: 16
Conditions = None
Weapon Equipped = Crossbow
Silver Blanch, Cold Iron Bolts = 16/20
+1, Frost, Bolts = 20/20
+1 Bolts = 10/10
Ghost Salt, Cold iron Bolts = 10/10
Ranged: Attack: BAB +7/2, Dex +6, Magic +2, Weapon Focus +1, (Rapid Shot -2), (Deadly Aim -2) Damage: Dex +6, Magic +2, (Deadly Aim +4)
Melee: Attack: BAB +7/2, Str +0 Damage: +0
Grit = 3/4
Ranger Focus = (+2) 1/1
Quick Runner’s Shirt = 1/1
Spells (caster level 1, concentration +2, DC 11+)
At Will: Prestidigitation, Detect Magic
1/day: Detect Secret Doors, True Strike
Aieshe lines up the western-most drow, then the southern should that one fall.
(cover)
(cover)
(cover)
Ever the perfectionist, he swears under his breath as two of his bolts fly wide of the mark. Still, he hopes the third found bone and blood, muscle and tendon.
Drawing the string back on her shortbow, Nel attempts to track the drow wearing the green cloak. As she releases the arrow, Nel gasps in shock at her aim is true. Glancing around to see if anyone else noticed, her shoulders slump as she realizes that she is still surrounded by fog.
Dropping his blade to the ground, Tamiro draws and fires his shortbow at the drow that Nel shot.
"I would preffer if they walked on the ground!" Tamiro grumbles angrily.