This is true. You longshanks are clumsy. I'll be right back.
And he disappears into the underbrush.
Darnel knows that they passed by fairly recently, within the last hour most likely.
Stickymitts heads off into the underbrush, towards the direction the tracks were said to have been going.
Inarus will stay behind. In his mind if the goblin is worth following this is it's chance to prove itself
It isn't long before Stickymitts loses the tracks. He hadn't gotten more than ten minutes away from the camp.
Sticky hours back to camp. Them tracks hard to follow in night time, even with me good eye. If one of you longshanks wants to try, go for it. If no, we ride... Again.
"Lets ride but with more caution since we know there are people around."
Maybe we can give the horses a little break and not announce our presence to all around.
"We may be able to maintain the surprise if we don't look for riders bent for hell."
Sticky starts to protest on the slower pace, but huffs instead and agrees to a sneakier approach. I guess mission more important than dead horsies... He grumbles.
Inarus nods and continues on, glad to see that the group could act reasonably.
The band rides onward, slowing their pace somewhat, but they near the fort within half an hour.
The forest thins out ahead, revealing a wide river valley cleared of trees. The path descends for a quarter mile to a single stone bridge that spans the river, and then continues up a small hill. Atop this barren hill sits a small, two-story fort surrounded by a thick, partially collapsed outer wall.
Fangwood Keep is built on an otherwise barren hill and the surrounding countryside has been cleared of all large boulders, trees, and other obstructions, so it appears it would be virtually impossible to infiltrate the fortress during the day without being seen.
Indeed, Inarus notices that there are torches set up in a few places along the ramparts, and that there seem to be figures patrolling along it. Other than that, the area seems to be clear of any other humanoids. You think you are the first group to arrive.
The bridge over the Marideth seems to be the only place to easily cross the swiftly flowing river, though it is also obviously well within sight of anyone stationed on one of the keep's ramparts. Swimming the river might be a possibility for a skilled swimmer.
There is a lightly wooded area not far from the bridge on this side of the river that might make for a good place to tie up the mounts, and possibly plan an ambush (or get ambushed if you aren't the first to arrive). Or you could do so here, before the forest thins out at the top of the hill, basically a quarter mile away from the fort (a few minutes run, and about 5 minute walk).
Sticky points to the wooded area near the bridge. We tie up there. Let's go! And bes quiet. Noisy travels faster than horse in places like this.
Darnel nods his agreement and walks slowly behind Stickymitts.
"Would it not be wise to set up an ambush here? We could use the horses as bait. They are loud and expendable. At the very least if we could capture an enemy scout we could learn more of whom we face."
How you know they come here? Maybe they not? Has you done ambushes before?
"Once or twice. So I say that we go to the lightly wooded area near the bridge up there. Set up camp there, leave the horses. The enemy sees this, wonders who the hell was there, and their scouts come to investigate. We then ambush them."
While i like the idea of hiding I am concerned, Darnel is quite un-stealthy. Is there anything I can do to gain some sort of bonus on this? Even something as silly as having the others bury me in leaves or something?
"So the idea is to set up a fake camp and the fall upon them? That could work, I am not good at hiding so that could help."
Songs delicious to me! You longshsnks figure this out. I'm gonna go get us some scouts! Using my demon.
Sticky grabs his horse and leads it out of the winds at an angle to the fort so that he can hide behind it. He leads it in an arc until he's sure it has been seen. Then he leads it back, staying hidden in its shadow the whole time.
"I think I may be better of hiding in the trees. I will try and score a hit with my bow and then come in to attack."
Darnel moves a ways into the woods, attempting to give himself a clear shot when the times comes.
"Right. Best to take one alive, but more important to make sure nobody gets away. Let's see what we can do."
As Stickmitts leads his horse across the bridge and around the base of the hill, one of the figures on the wall notices and puts a signal horn to his lips, sounding out 4 long blasts. There is no way to tell if he only saw a horse, or also saw Stickymitts.
Within 5 minutes, another 4 guards have appeared on the battlements, and it appears that the fort is on high alert.
Seeing the others actions, or lack their of, Darnel will stay in his secluded location back a bit in the woods knowing that he is very unsneaky.
As it has been a month I would ask that the GM move these to previous campaigns.
I understand real life but would love to clean up the threads from our lists.