Hmm... I doubt they will oblige us. A swift assault at night still seems the best move.
Alexander shrugs, Perhaps not, but why rush things. We might as well keep killing them as long as they oblige us. He frowns and looks around, And as Eduard pointed out, attacking at night is just as dangerous for us as it is for them. It's open ground up to the fort. I'm quiet. I'm not invisible. And most of us can't see in the dark anyway. He goes on, And there are still ten of them and, possibly, some sort of beast. He sighs slightly, but doesn't look altogether discouraged, I don't like our odds.
Mounting up, Alexander continues, If they hunker down, we can come up with another plan. But if they're willing to keep sending their men out to die...I say we let them. His chuckle is dark, I may have an idea for talking our way in if they send out a few more.
Being outnumbered almost two to one and attacking into prepared defenses really doesn't seem like the best solution. I agree that we should wait and watch...though if someone has a method of garnering additional information, that is always welcome.
Aye, my lord. I am vessels out here, where I have freedom to move about.
My blessings are limited right now so I cannot divine what is going on inside the fort. I will wait for some more time.
Thaliar walks up to the rest, leaving the tied down thieves be for the moment, "Can't we just torch the place? Middle of the night, most of them sleeping. Just set fire to it."
He looks at each of them in turn before continuing, "Another option is retreat for now. Let them feel like things calmed down a bit. I could make some alchemical supplies back at Oleg's, smokesticks or something like that. That mad hermit probably has some supplies as well."
As soon as he eyes a dagger on one of the bandits he grabs it, "I'll take this. Been needing a proper knife for quite some time now."
No doubt we would need large amounts of oil. Hopefully they won't just up and leave while we do that. We do have quite a number of bandits to deal with, securing them at Oleg's sounds wise.
Alexander nods, An interesting plan. Though again, sneaking up to the fort at night poses problems. Soren and I are quiet, but neither of us would be able to cross that entire field and set fire to the fort without being seen. And certainly, when we tried to make our escape, they'll see us. He shrugs again, So far they keep coming. Why not just wait till they stop before changing what we do? He chuckles, It's true that if they were smart, they would stop. But they haven't yet. I'm sure they will, but what are we losing if we wait? Surprise? We have that...of a sort. Alexander frowns in thought, Returning to Oleg's could work. I'm cautious because I think they'd be quick to replace any losses they've suffered while we're gone. Then again, if we resupply we could manage this sort of plan indefinitely.
He rests his hand on his swordbelt and leans back in the saddle to stretch. I think I may have an idea for getting inside. Alexander yawns and chuckles, covering it up with his hand, We have several bodies here and, covered in cloaks, bodies tend to look like bodies. We could have a few of us lead horses laden down with 'dead' bandits up to the fort. Tell the gate guards that we were on the road to come join up, having been run off from Oleg's, and found these dead men and several horses. As long as some of us don't mind being thrown over a horse and maybe having to fit into some blood covered leathers. He shrugs, It would at least get us up to the gate without being shot at...maybe. And, if we're lucky, it might get us inside. Laughing, he continues, Now, if they're smart they'll have every bow trained on us while we sit in the courtyard and look at the bodies to make sure they are the bandits that left...but we'd at least be inside. Looking around the group he evaluates the plan in his head, I'd suggest Radomir and...Thaliar as the two leading the rest of us? Thaliar to do the talking and Radomir because I'd rather he stay in his armor. Between cloaks and blankets we can cover the rest of us enough that, from a distance, we should be fine...I think? He nods his head curtly, Yes, probably. He looks around the group, What do you think? Wait a day or two more, if they don't keep coming else, we can try one of these other plans?
We also have the password from the other bandit camp to us to hhelp our ruse.
Soren nods.
That plan could work. We' just have to figure out a way to not get shot when they inspect the "bodies".
We.. could pose as new recruits? Perhaps say that we seek a new master who can provide us with wealth and battle?
Sounds fine to me.
Soren nods.
Thats actually not a bad idea. Say we were recruited by someone at the other camp, but when we got there everyone was already dead. It took us a while to find this place, but we have the password. Could be believable...
We only need them to let us inside. It's best not to complicate the lie. They just need to be curious enough to let two people inside. As long as they don't fill you with holes outside the gate, we should be fine. He chuckles, Once inside though, we'll need to work fast. They'll notice something's wrong if they get the chance, so we can't give them one. He looks around, So, another day, see what they do...then try something new?
Works for me.
With the help of others, Andrea and Radomir get everyone prepped as 'dead bandits' over the horses. Artfully putting blood stains on the clothes, Andrea heads up with Radomir in stolen bandit clothing. It is a little tight, but she hopes that the ruse will last long enough for everyone to get in.
Riding up with Radomir, from a different direction from where they ambushed the bandits of course, she casts her blessing and addrsses the fort. ‘By the Bloody Bones of St. Gilmorg, who wants to know?! We cam from the camp run by hatchet-lady! We got ambushed by new soldiers from Oleg's and have some of our dead with us! Can we be let inside?
Radomir stays to the back of the group. He can't think of a convincing lie to tell the bandits so he keeps his mouth shut, and hopes no one figures out he's not a bandit
The ruse chaffs, though, and he remains rigid astride his horse. Aye! The thrice-damned fools attacked us in the night!
He remains calm ad poised, but inwardly he groans. That sounded weak to even his ears.
Though the gate guards fall for Andrea's lies, they snicker at Radomir's comment on being attacked in the night. Obviously they were attacked in the day and the man is just lieing to hide what a poor fighter he is...
One of the gate doors swings open and a bandit motions your group in. "You can come into the courtyard yard, but I warn you to stay put until we have a chance to get one of the lieutenants to come down and give you a look over. You can place your dead up against the wall over there for now. If you pass inspection, then we will show you where you can put them to rest. If you fail, then you will be joining them."
The gate is shut back after the group enters, both to prevent any escape and from anyone else trying to sneak in.
Alexander, while being under a blanket and over the back of a horse, tries to get a sense of where the bandits are...to no avail.
Radomir easily dismounts and stands beside Czernabog, He lazily strokes his horse's flanks.
Andrea moves to get the 'corpses' off the horses with Radomir, she does look around and mutter to the actors about how many guards are present and who is watching.
The bandit that seems to be in charge begins to give orders to one of the others to go and fetch a lieutenant to either verify your recruit status or to give the order to kill the lot of you. He heads off, out of the courtyard, presumably to carry out that order.
That leaves another guard up in a tower on watch duty, four bandits standing about the courtyard with weapons drawn and the in charge fellow who moves up a set of stairs to stand on the catwalk.
You know that this fort is not all that large, so it likely will not take too long before a lieutenant is found to come and look you all over.
Alexander slides off the back of the horse, pulling his sword and shield out and he lands on the ground, Now.
Take them now, before the others come out. Soren, tower!
Might as well.
Soren rolls off of the horse, and uses it for cover as his bow slides into his hands. He wastes no time, launching two arrows at the guard in the tower.
On it. Cover my back.
Andrea's first action is to cast Bless on the group +1 attack/saves vs fear 3 minutes.
Round 1Strike at them from all sides! Find the chinks in their armor!
Radomir uses his surprise round to give everyone precise strike
If Eduard can move and hit the group on the ground with Color Spray, he will do so and spend a point of Arcane Reservoir to boost the DC (DC 18). Otherwise he will cast Mage Armor and draw his crossbow.
Andrea casts Bless upon her group.
Alexander Inspires Courage among his group.
Eduard casts Color Spray, catching two of the guards within its cone.
Soren shoots off two arrows and the bandit in the guard tower, one arrow hits, but the other misses.
Radomir tells his party where best to find all the chinks in their opponents armors.
The tower bandit shoots an arrow back at Soren,
but misses.
Two of the guards are blinded and stunned, thus do not attack.
The other two attack Eduard for disabling their comrades.
The bandit up on the catwalk keeps moving over to the side of the wall.
Assuming he can do so, Eduard will take a 5 foot step back and cast Color Spray at the two guards that attacked him. He will spend another Arcane Reservoir to boost the DC.
Effects:Bless,Precise Strike
Andrea..strikes one of the bandits attacking Eduard
Soran grunts in disapproval of himself, and fires two more arrows.
It took Thaliar a little longer than expected to get from on the blanket simply because the barbs on his spear got tangled up with the cloth. It wasn't charming or elegant but it was fixed now.
He looked up from under the blanket just in time to see some bandits attack Eduard and figured he'd need to defend the arcanist. He downs one of his extracts\, increasing his reach by extending his arms. He looked like some kind of abomination but it was a useful brew.
Alexander slides in behind one of the men attacking Eduard, opposite of Thaliar, hacking away. Press the attack! Down them fast!
Andrea fails to make contact with her spear.
Alexander strikes one of the bandits with his sword.
Thaliar successfully strikes one of the bandits as well.
Eduard casts color spray again.
Both of the bandits that had been facing Eduard are blinded and stunned for rounds and then stunned for 1 round.
The bandit on the catwalk has made his way over to a level and is now raising it which seems to be connected to a gate that opens up. A distinctive hooting sound can be heard from inside the gate.
Soren hits the bandit in the tower with both of his arrow, killing him.
Czernabog! attack! Radomir draws his greatsword and moves to flank a bandit with his might trusty steed. The horse rears and paws and bites at their foe.
+ (flanking)
+
+
The dark knight swings with grim determination
+
We have them on the ropes? Are they unleashing an owl on us?
Radomir misses his attack, somehow, but his horse manages to put down one of the stunned and injured bandits.
RD 3 Init 22
Effects:Bless,Precise Strike,Inspire courage
Andrea is not inclined to allow stunned foes a chance to recover and stabs a stunned one
Not to be deterred, Radomir redoubled his efforts and attacked a still standing bandit, again. Czernabog wheels around to flank the vanity again.
precise strike
precise strike
precise strike
precise strike
Alexander slams his sword down on the same bandit trying to finish him off.