"The aim enhancer you speak of sounds like the True Strike spell. One of my personal favourites. Nifty divination really - very limited but it will tell you which way to wave your weapon. Sadly I've never found a good way to let others share it's benefits - except Munin here through our bond. But if we are going to escalate this to siege warfare it should make the aiming of the battle engines a piece of cake."
"Speaking of divination - maybe we could see if the aerial view offers any pointers? Munin - if you would be so kind. I'll get you an extra cracker from our reserves..."
Munin glares at the rain - it doesn't take a master familiar bond to see that he is contemplating mutiny. But the reward is good ... And the rain seems to be easing up so the raven emerges from the protection underneath Fhârns poncho and takes flight as he lifts him up. As the raven flies away Fhârn smiles at him - proud no doubt.
"That's the spirit!"
Lanyas response wasn't as definitive as he would have hoped. "Oh well - it would have been helpful if one of them had antlers. Or cloven feet atleast. That would have made it obvious. But if you don't have any other enemies looking out for you - I still feel it is rather safe to assume that the smug, evil looking one might be the bandit leader. Whom else would enlist powerful divination to look for you?"
//
Munin the raven returns some twenty-thirty minutes after he left. He is soaked and quickly returns to his hiding spot in Fhârns poncho causing the wizard-warrior to shiver from the sudden cold and wet sensation. "Munin - you are getting rain all over my shirt. You couldn't atleast shake the worst of it away? sigh" While his words are annoyed his tone is playful and he sticks the bird a dry cracker from his backpack as he speaks. The bird eats it with meticulous slowness and care, no doubt his way of annoying his master back.
Finally done, Munin once more braves the rain for a moment to fly up and perch on Fhârns shoulder. He turns to his masters ear. If he actually speaks any words are lost to the smattering of raindrops but Fhârn seems to understand.
"Munin says there is one archer in each tower. And they seems on the ball. The keep also seems to be an old stone construction reinforced with new wooden walkways and the palisade and watchtowers we see from here. They have six horses and a ... what do you mean? A bear? Six horses and a 'bear'. But not at the same place. Obviously. And ..."
"How many men, total, did your bird see?"
Felix listens to the conversation as it wends and winds from one stratagem to the next. His smile is that of grim determination, dark clouds of frustration burst through his mind. "Now if only we had a way to amplify voices, none of you would have a way to do that? Arrow with a note attached to it is the next best idea. Fortify a position and lay siege seems to be the best course of action, our Kobold allies would work wonderfully for this, break their will and hold the line. If they sally they will break against a trap ridden forest and a line of ranged volley. Swine feathers, bear traps, pits and pendulums, build the wall and trench in such a way if they manage to take one we fall back to the next line and they are left with an indifensible pigeon gallery just begging to be peppered with arrows. We starve them out and put ourselves at the least amount of risk." Felix looks to each of his companions trying to gauge each in turn.
Fhârn turns to Munin, nodding in the direction of Dareon. He then turns his ear back to the raven. "Three watchtowers - three archers. And a few more. But the weather made it hard to get a good count. Besides - I would guess anyone not forced outside would not be outside in the rain"
Munin looks like he is done talking to Fhârn for the moment but leans closer one more time. His master smiles and gives a short laugh "And he says he prefers to be called raven instead of bird, 'mammal'" Fhârn gives Dareon an apologetic look and adds "For such a small creature Munins ego is of remarkable size" at which the bird bites him in the ear. While slightly annoyed Munin takes care to not actually injure his master - but the point comes across. "Oww!" Fhârn shoots the raven a playful grin "But it's true ! Where else would you store all those those crackers you have been stuffing yourself with?"
edit: [b]"I still think luring them out and ambushing them is a preferable course of action to a siege. Anyhow - we can always start besieging the keep if it is our best bet after we interrogated whatever prisoners our ambush would yield. As for voice amplification I can only throw my voice a short distance - not nearly far enough to safely reach the keep. But there should be magic capable of what you wish..."
"I'm going for a walk."
Anastacia sets off, down to the lakeshore. She uses the cover available as best as she can, knowing that she would be easy to see in her polished armor. Though polished to prevent rust her armor is a dark blueish color so it should not stand out too much in the twilight.
While listening to the ongoing planning, the though occurred to Anastacia, that if the bandit's keep had an escape tunnel, it probably would run down to the lake shore. With this thought in mind, Anastacia sets off to find out. She stays as far from the keep as possible, but follows the shore of Tuskwater lake around behind the keep.
"The same someone who can command a giantess riding a black unicorn? I'd say whoever she is, she is pretty powerful, not many giants would serve someone less powerful than they are."
Lanya glances at Anastacia and sees her leave, stating that she was going for a walk.
"Be careful Anastacia, the last time I went for a walk alone I came home with a new familiar. I'd not wish for you to meet Yalkari as well."
Masamura breaks his pondering to speak before Anastacia can leave."Perhaps you should take someone with you. Or at least not stray to far from the groups sight.""He then looks to Munin and offers him a small scrap of meat.""I meant no offense little friend."
"If those are your orders, then I suppose we should be about them, Felix. I've little skill in the wilderness, or I'd volunteer to try and find a camp to fortify. Should one group in particular be about that task? If you don't mind my suggestion, Rowan's group seems well suited to that task. And was there something you wanted the rest of us to do?" Wilhelm nods respectfully at the man and stays nearby, waiting for further orders. Sensible orders, given the situation. I feel somewhat useless though, without more knowledge of the wilderness. Still, my strengths lie elsewhere.
When Lanya announces her intentions to leave for a walk, he looks up from his thoughts in alarm and says, "Our friend has the right of it Anastacia and caution is particularly important for Lanya, you and I. Our descriptions are likely known to all the bandits by this point, so you wouldn't be able to bluff your way out. Please consider allowing someone to accompany you. I volunteer to join you, of course."
Sanita pipes up. "Groups are for when we split up. For now, we need to put the best people on the job." She looks around and nods. "Rowan, you, myself, Masamura, Vors, the kobolds, and Dantalion are the best at being sneaky and know a good bit about nature and survival. Between us, we should be able to find a good place to hole up, at least for tonight a mile or so away. Then tomorrow we can be stealthy and find a good defensive position to make a more permanent forward base." She bows her head toward Felix. "With your leave of course." SHe looks thoughtful. "Did I leave anyone who's good at wilderness survival or being a sneaky rat out?"
Masamura points taps Sanita on the shoulder then points to Bej."Maybe Him?"
Sanita blinks at Bej. "Really?" She asks in a surprised, almost yelp. Then she blushes red. "Oh, sorry Bej! It's just.. well.. you struck me as sort of a... well, court functionary. Are you very good at wilderness survival?"
Rowan chuckles at Sanita's surprise. "Bej is a follower of Erastil. It shouldn't surprise you. Though, if I recall from our earlier talks he mentioned that he wasn't an expert forest dweller but could manage if needed. I don't mean to sound harsh, but we can leave him here for the stealthy part of the mission. We could use his knowledge though..." he finishes saying thoughtfully.
"He might be helpful when it comes to setting up a camp. Or being bait."Masamura shoots Bej a very playful grin while saying the last part he moves ever so closer then leaps towards his hat..."Especially with that hat!"...Only to trip and fall flat on his face.
Awaiting orders Vors begins to gather his things so he is ready to move.
"One thing still bothers me. What creature looks like a bear but isn't? It was in a pen - so it is unlikely to be an exceptionally hairy bandit ..."
Meanwhile, Munin eagerly jumps to accept Masamura's offering.
Anastacia and whomever wishes to accompany her head off along the shoreline, taking advantage of the rain. The shoreline is pristine.
She is no naturalist, but the Lake looks healthy and full of fish. So intent is she at studying the Lake that a few times she is certain that she wandered out into full view of the Fort but was not seen. Either the rain is helping or the guards do not consider the Lake approach a threat. There is a small hillock about 60' down the southeast side of the hill the Fort sits on. Anastacia reaches it about the time the rain ends.
She is overcome by a sense of dread. Something near here is an affront to Pharasma and all she stands for. In the meantime she also realizes that without the rain it is going to be very hard for her to sneak out from the shadow of the hill she is behind. Looks like she's stuck there until dark.
So fixated is she on her surroundings that Anastasia doesn't even notice Dareon, wandering about the various hillocks collecting an armful of firewood. "None of us should wander alone!" he ventures, growing still when he sees her inspecting the countryside.
"What do you see?"
Rowan quietly moves along the terrain, following Anastacia and Dareon while wondering incredulously how they weren't spotted by the guards in the fort. On the way there he examines the countryside and lake and extending his senses to bond with the Natural.
Walking with Anastacia around the hillock, he noticed her pause. "Is there something wrong?" he asks her softly as he looks for what could be bothering her.
Wilhelm moves quietly along after Anastacia, growing more used to his armor. He keeps an eye on the surrounding territory, particularly the keep in case they are spotted. As Rowan speaks quietly, Wilhelm glances at the hill curiously. Seems like nothings amiss to me? What did they see that's spooked them. Wilhelm begins a more careful observation of the hill.
"Yes. An offence to My Lady of Graves." Anastacia touches her holy symbol, then looks around apprehensively. "My guess is, there is an undead abomination somewhere near, though it could be a shrine to a dark god.
Anastacia frowns."I wish the rain had not stopped. We need to inform Felix. If there are undead around they are a threat to any pickets or patrols out for his siege line. Worse it may be something that comes out at night, so if we wait for dark we may have to fight it. Most of us will need a light for fighting, and a light will alert the bandit guards.
"Undead abominations? Let me see what I can detect." Wilhelm doesn't have the same sensation, but he nonetheless invokes his Lady's assistance to detect any evil auras on or near the hillside.
Seeing as several members of the party left on a scouting tour Fhârn once more summons Munins attention. He knows he is not stealthy enough, but the Raven is small and inconspicuous.
"Munin - follow them and help them"
With a nod the dark bird takes wing once more into the rain, following the others towards the lake. With that taken care of Fhârn looks around at the remaining companions. He winces slightly in disgust at Sanitas new project but says nothing about it.
"Shall we wait for them to return or ...?"
He directs his question at noone in particular but after a few moments his eyes is drawn to Felix, the one elected to lead.
Munin follows the ones scouting on a safe distance. When they finally stops by the lake, he swoops down and lands on Masamura's shoulder. The bird immediate starts to clean its feathers - only when he is done he looks up and around. It seems as if the rain finally ended. It was such a hassle to fly in rain. Wet and cold.
"*squak*?" he asks questioningly as the divine servants investigate a seemingly normal hill.
"I think it is best. To many of us would just reveal them." Vors answers. "That being said they are quit far away should something happen," he continues.
Sanita get's tired of watching Felix sit around and not make decisions. "Right, Felix is obviously overcome with concern for our comrades trapped down by the lake. There's not much we can do for them without revealing them. So, since I can't help them, I can help the entire group by delegating authority from our transfixed leader to myself." She nods, turns her horse, and heads off deeper into the woods. "We need a camp for the night, some place we can defend. Anyone who's stealthy and knowledgeable about the woods can come with me, assuming any of them didn't wander off down by the lake to try to talk their way into Anastacia's skirt."
"They are five grown beings, I believe they can handle a walk in the moonlight together. As for a camp for the night you are more than capable of this I take it, though you might learn a little patience my dear. Since you have volunteered yourself, you; Ben; and Dantalion should be able to find us a good spot safely and quietly. Vors, if you would be so kind as to run a noteto the ssoot scale requesting aid with traps and such , it would be appreciated."
Wheeling his horse about as it stamps in place, Dante rides to where Felix is standing, Drawing reign a few paces short of the man. "My lord, while we should continue with our battle plans, perhaps at somepoint it may be best to try and parley with the men in the fortress. I wonder as to whether this self proclaimed lord Stag, is actually self proclaimed. We may be dealing with a cult or fanatics. If not, the offer of legal reprieve and steady paying work may be enough to sway the majority of the bandits to our side, leaving no damage to the fortress which is a grand boon as it is the perfect staging point for our campaign into these lands."
ANASTACIA, WILHELM, MASAMURA, ROWAN, DAREON AND MUNIN
Masamura makes it to the hillock without being seen.
Rowan thinks the Lake would be great for fishing. The entire area is vibrant and full of life.
Anastacia, Wilhelm, Masamura, Rowan, Dareon and Munin and possibly Argos are now hidden behind the hillock from the Fort. The sun sets in one hour.
SANITA, DANTALION AND VORS
Sanita, Ben, Dantalion and the Kobolds have been sent to find a camping spot. Vors, who has been sent with a message travels with you. You only travel a short distance north, when you spy a strange sight. Flying south over the river is a ball of light. It wobbles this way and that. It evidently spies you for it in a sudden burst of speed it bars your way. Up close you can see that the light emanates from a skull made of luminescent gas
An eery ethereal voice comes from the floating skull. "Travellers, tell me what lies south of here."
EVERYONE ELSE
There does seem to be some sort of commotion at the watchtowers, but you soon realize that it is not anyone being seen, they are merely changing watch.
Sanita smiles at the creature, and bows in her saddle. "Oh my, I have never seen one of your type before. An honor, Sir Will O." She speaks, her tone civil. "To the south of here lies forests and rivers and lakes." She tilts her head. "Is there something you are searching for tonight? Other than lone travellers, that is?" She laughs lightly.
Grimacing in distaste, Wilhelm takes in the hillside and its concentrated aura of evil for a time. In a worried and clearly disturbed tone, he quietly tells his companions, "It would seem we've stumbled onto a graveyard of some sort. There's a larger emanation of evil from under the ground -some desecrated structure perhaps?- in addition to a number of smaller ones that are barely buried. I'd hazard a guess that those are undead creatures themselves." Wilhelm glances at the others, frustration evident in the tightening of his face as he says, "As much as I'd like to remove the influence of these creatures, any combat is likely to alert the bandits. We'll have to wait until after they are dealt with to cleanse this place."
SANITA, ET AL..
"Power and Fear" it replies. "Power, I can feel to the south. Fear...." it glows brighter and starts to advance on Sanita. "I find where I can.."
Wilhelm takes 20 minutes studying the aura and the hillside. He soon realizes that its like looking a hooded latern. There is a strong source of evil buried under that hill and he is just seeing the miasma that penetrates the earth and stone above it. Then he suddenly makes a discovery. There is a patch of earth at the very edge of the field, directly away from the Fort where the evil shows more strongly, almost as if there was very little earth between it and Wilhelm.
Sanita giggles. "Oh well, at least we'll get to have fun seeing how much we can. Vors, Dantalion, this is a Will o Wisp. It's evil, and it feeds on fear. I don't think it's going to be happy with me, I think it's fascinating." She pulls out a flask of alchemist's fire as it begins advancing. "Oh, and it's immune to magic, and hard as heck to hit."
It misses the creature, but hits the ground next to it and splashes fire over it.
"Splash weapons, on the other hand, don't require a direct hit." She says with a giggle.
SANITA. ET AL
Startled by Sanita's reaction the Will o Wisp shoots up, hovering over your heads. Then a sound emanates from it, almost like laughter. "Well I suppose, you won't be much of a meal. You may continue."
And with that it zooms across the river towards the east. As Sanita and her friends look around she notices that Ben stood his ground, although he is sweating. The kobolds have disappeared into the brush however and it takes a half an hour to find them.
Wilhelm frowns down at the spot at the foot of the hill, curious about the emanation his abilities can detect. It's stronger here, but it doesn't look that extraordinary. With a glance at the fort, he quietly says, "The whole of the aura, it seems to be creeping outward from this point, the aura is much stronger here. I'm wondering if this is a potential opening into whatever is under that hill. It might, with some luck, lead into the fort. Do you think it worth investigating, even with the risk of discovery? If it is an opening, we may be able to take the fort tonight with minimal risk of danger."
Sanita watches it fly off, and pouts. "Well, I never. I wasted a perfectly good alchemist fire on it, and it couldn't even be bothered to attack and let me see it's attack? I swear if I run into that thing again, I'm going to throw acid at it next time." She crosses her arms, looking rather childish. "What a gyp."
Then she blinks. "Are you ok Bej?" She looks to Dantalion. "Dantalion? Oh, where did the kobolds go?" She looks around, and jerks a small limb (about a foot long and 1/4 inch thick) off a nearby oak and sticks one end in her mouth gnawing on it in aggravation. "I swear, everyone's trying to get my goat tonight. If those kobolds don't come back soon I'm going to castrate them, see if I don't!"
" It certainly bears investigation. My goddess will want this evil stamped out, sooner rather than later." Anastacia looks around noting that Fhârn's bird has arrived. She digs into her backpack, hunting around, she pulls out a worn leather scroll case, along with a quill and inkpot.
Felix. There are undead here. We plan to deal with them. If you can stand by, to deal with any bandits that come out of the fort, it would be greatly appreciated.
please respond ASAP.
Regards, Anastacia.
Having written this message, Anastacia uses her dagger to carefully tear the parchment sheet. This makes a narrow strip just large enough for the message. Anastacia then rolls the message up and approaches Munin.
"What a handsome bird you are. I like how your feathers glisten. Like they are carved from obsidian. Could you carry this note to your master?"
Anastacia holds the tightly rolled strip up to Munin's beak hoping he will take it.[/b]
ANASTACIA, ET AL.
Once Wilhelm points out the patch of earth, very close scrutiny does reveal that their appears to be some sort of concealed door, under the sod. It is overgrown by years of neglect and although it lies outside the evil aura it is only inches away. It looks like it will take a few rounds of digging to free it up.
Moments after Sanita and her group leave to scout out a camp site for the night Munin lands and delivers his note.
"Thank you my pretty little friend." Felix reads the note with interest and then pens his own in return.
Dearest, Anastacia.
We will stand by for any movement from the fort. Please do be careful, although if there was anyone we should send versus the undead it is you and those who went with you.
With truest regards, Felix Sebastian Orlovsky.
Masamura pats Sanita on her shoulder.
As Masamura reaches out to pat Sanita on the shoulder, she says in a cool voice. "This is not the time for tricks, Masey. I'm seriously ticked off at that monster for not staying and killing us. It's like we're not worth fighting." She fumes. "Did you find any place to make a camp while you were sneaking around trying to sneak up on me?"
Dareon will stand back and let stronger folk take care of the excavation. He hasn't the invocation necessary to help nor the requisite shovel, and he guesses (based on the present company) that he's likely the weakest one there anyway.
He will, however, retrieve his quarterstaff, holding it at the ready. "I'll do what I can, but I'm not sure how useful my spell selection would be against an undead menace. I may have to rely on you folks. As for timing, I'd prefer to wipe out the undead now, rather than later. If it's within their pattern to ignore this area, if we could clear the threats we would gain a clear path of access to the fort."
"Perhaps we could use the undead in a trap for the bandits?"
"Doubtfully. The bandits likely already know that the undead are here."
"I find the idea distasteful, but I also don't think it's practical in any case. We'd have to draw the bandits into this hillside and they likely already know about the abominations. I doubt we can control the undead to drive them at the bandits and, even if we could, I doubt either Anastacia or myself would want anything to do with it." Wilhelm muses in a quiet tone. "Unless you have any further thoughts, I suggest we take a look at whatever is under here. If there's a way in, as I suspect, we shall have no need for traps like that." Wilhelm pauses for a moment to see if Masamura has any further thoughts on the subject.
With a nod, Wilhelm begins digging and motions towards Masamura, as the second most fit in the group, to assist.
As his armor clanks painfully loudly, Wilhelm pauses for a moment and glances up at the fort, listening carefully in the night and looking around with his ability to detect evil auras active. Muttering, annoyance writ large on his face, "Perhaps it would be best if I removed my armor temporarily."
Masamura thinks and then when Wilhelm starts digging he joins in."Two Birds, One Arrow. The Undead & Bandits weaken or kill each other and then we clean them up. Either way we should know what is there."When Wilhelm suggests removing his Armour Masamura looks at the knight."Wouldn't happen to have any lighter armour to wear for stealth and such or at least can strip down your armour to be better? That way you don't have to go in unarmoured."