Ljos gave a low bow in response to the queen's decision. Noticing Blink's reaction, he reached over and gave her arm a gentle squeeze, a sad smile on his lips as he tried to give some comfort.
Smiling sadly at the two men, Blink nodded to them both in thanks. But since there was nothing else to be done until the city could be retaken, and that meant securing the city of Drezen flew the flag of the Crusaders.
Yridhrennor pulls himself away from the rear of the
Group, shaking off his awe of the Queen and embarrassment at speaking to the group. [b]If it's alright, Crusader, I would like to spend a day researching Drezen. It's possible I can find some clue that will help us enter the city, or tell us who or what we may face there."
Steave gives a military bow of respect and says, "by your leave, majesty. We've a city to retake. Let's go meet our new traveling companions. Yridhennor, please do your research while we get the troops organized. We'll leave at dawn tomorrow."
Of course, Crusader. He does not scurry, he tells himself. He has a certain dignity to maintain. But, there's clearly more haste in his steps than normal as he makes his way to the library. There, he sends his raven flying to find books and scrolls about Drezen, the Worldwound, and even Sarkoris. He searches for anything that might prove useful on the long march from Kenabres to the ruined fortress town.
Aid anothers are from the raven
I'm not sure what bonuses he'd get.. so....
Yridhrennor learns the basic history of Drezen, which runs on the lines that Galfrey shared: build by dwarven engineers during the First Crusade, carved right into the rock of a hill not far from the source of the Sellen. It held for ten years of constant warfare, before betrayed from within. Before its fall, the Sword was held in a vault deep within the citadel.
His research does turn up what may be an ideal route to approach the fortress, mostly following the bank of the Sellen by way of Vala's Gift and Vilareth Ford to Keeper's Canyon, and from there deeper into the Worldwound.
Ljos gave another quick bow, "I'll go to make immediate preparations, let's have all the officers of the strike force meet at dusk to combine information and see what our basic strategy will consist of. Any enlisted or auxiliaries who would like to contribute to the officer's meeting are welcome to attend. Objections?"
Crusader, Yridhrennor approaches the Staeve and the other warriors, his arms laden with books and scrolls. I found a path that may be best to approach Drezen: we follow the bank of the Selen by way of Vala's Gift and Vilareth Ford to Keeper's Canyon, and then go deeper into the Worldwond from there.
Steave nods to the scholar and says to the new companions, "Thank you for the intelligence, Yridhrennor. Does anyone here know that path?"
Yridhrennor blushes and hides himself in one of his books as he tried to find a map of the worldwound. Th-th-thank you, Crusader. I... I'm... That is.. Uh.. Yes, well... I'll begin researching right away..
modified by having a library?
Steave nods to the scholar and says to the new companions, "Thank you for the intelligence, Yridhrennor. Does anyone here know that path?"
The crusaders found their advisers all camped in tents near one another, clearly expecting them. A young Taldan man who carried a short blade and spiked shield rushed forward at their arrival, then pulled back and tried to muster proper decorum.
"It's an honor to meet you, Captains," he made a hurried bow. "I was at Clydwell Keep when you destroyed the wardstones. We were against the wall and outnumbered. All of us there owe you our lives." He concluded with a pause a moment too long before remembering to introduce himself, "I'm Aron Kir, Captains. At your service."
A Mwangi man presented himself next, handsome and fitted with armor that he somehow still kept clean. He put a gentle hand on Aron's shoulder and guided the slightly awestruck crusader aside.
"Sosiel Vaenic, my lords and lady. Aron means to say that he's the architect and siege engineer." Aron nodded. "The dwarves built Drezen and Aron studies dwarf work. He's got it all mapped out from records in Nerosyan and all the reports we've had since."
"I do," Aron said, embarrassed.
"And I'm the one that knows the damned Worldwound to get you there," said a halfling woman. "Stick with me and you'll never make a false turn. That route Lord Yridhrennor said is just what I'd pick for our army. Just myself, I'd scale the cliff by the Gift instead, but good luck hauling all the armor up that way. There's some natural choke points the Abyss might have plugged up tight for us, but no helping it. That's what swords are for."
"It's good to meet you all," Blink replied with a short bow. "I'm Blink. It's nice to know we have people with us with such useful skills. I'm especially interested to hear ideas on how we're going to take the fortress without destroying half of it ourselves."
"How are we going to transport supplies?" Blink continued as she glanced around. "I know I couldn't find much in the way of food, shelter or water when I was out there, and what I did see was not what I'd especially want to eat."
Oh, uh.. th-thank you. Yes. .um.. well.. I tried.. It wasn't.. um.. thank you. He buries his head in his robes, desperate to lose the attention.
Ugh, elf. She said you did good work. Take the compliment! his raven sighs and nibbles at the scholar's ear in frustration.
Galin nods as Aron introduces himself, I remember you, glad to see you survived. He listens intently to the halfling guide as she talks, and absentmindedly touches the hilt of his rapier as she mentions the potential for fighting.
"Well met, I'm Steave Rojerz and am a bit confused. Her majesty introduced Aron Kir as a demonic tactician not as an architect and siege engineer. How about you Sosial Vaenic? How well do you know siege, infiltration, and scouting?" The Captain asks with a disarming smile.
"Well met, I'm Steave Rojerz and am a bit confused. Her majesty introduced Aron Kir as a demonic tactician not as an architect and siege engineer. How about you Sosial Vaenic? How well do you know siege, infiltration, and scouting?" The Captain asks with a disarming smile.
"I have studied the tactics of the host," Sosiel said. "Striking patterns emerge from their chaos. I have painted some of them. It is also my privilege to offer the Eternal Maiden's blessings."
"It's good to meet you all," Blink replied with a short bow. "I'm Blink. It's nice to know we have people with us with such useful skills. I'm especially interested to hear ideas on how we're going to take the fortress without destroying half of it ourselves."
"It will depend how the demons have changed things and set their guard, but there are several ways, Aron said.
"How are we going to transport supplies?" Blink continued as she glanced around. "I know I couldn't find much in the way of food, shelter or water when I was out there, and what I did see was not what I'd especially want to eat."
"You've got a hundred crusaders. All their legs and arms work," Nurah, the halfling, said.
"Her Majesty has provided wagons and teams, but we will have to carry most of it on our backs as Nurah says," Sosiel said.
Ljos taps a finger to his lip, "Captains, you know the force we have been assigned better than I. What is the proportion of horsemen, infantry, and archers among our force? Are any of the chosen by the gods or are the all strictly lay warriors?"
Ljos taps a finger to his lip, "Captains, you know the force we have been assigned better than I. What is the proportion of horsemen, infantry, and archers among our force? Are any of the chosen by the gods or are the all strictly lay warriors?"
"They all enjoy the gods' blessings," Sosiel said. "Her Majesty has equipped them to work as archers or infantry, but they are footmen either way."
Ljos nods along, "Ok, that makes things a little harder than I'd like. Without horsemen we'll be unable to shield our flanks or have a rapid response force. I'd like to move quickly, too. Steave, my experience with large forces is as a raider and with large proportions of mounted or stealthy troops, I'm a bit out of my specialization here. Would you be so kind as to take overall command?"
Yridhrennor consults his books. Maybe Zartafan's Campaigns in the Eastern Provinces can provide some insight? He begins frantically seraching through his books to try and find some suggestions on how best to go through the Worldwound.
Steave nods, "Let's plan out our route to Drezen. , please show us the best route. Sosial, what are the best tactics to counter the demons' defenses. Aron, what can you contribute the advance?"
Steave nods, "Let's plan out our route to Drezen. , please show us the best route. Sosial, what are the best tactics to counter the demons' defenses. Aron, what can you contribute the advance?"
Nurah and Yridhrennor compare notes. Twice his reading finds possible shortcuts or detours around difficult terrain but both times she supplies recent news that the paths are closed to them by shifts in the Worldwound. Once he finds a path that would suffice, which she had forgotten and might save the army the at least a few hours.
Sosiel explained at some length the present state of crusader drill. The entire company had cold iron weapons and were well-trained in the best times and ways to use their divine abilities both as individuals and coordinated. He was quite sure that a score of paladins, disciplined and read, could slay demons that might slaughter the lot of them as individuals.
Aron produced a series of precisely drawn maps from a folio, "We don't know the precise dispositions, but it's safe to assume that the Abyss will have some forces deployed beyond Drezen's walls. We'll have to deal with them and then force a crossing of the Ahar. It was dry even before the crusades, but the banks are too steep for an easy advance. We'd be trapped inside."
"The citadel itself has an outer wall with watchtowers. At last word they had siege engines atop each. If we can reduce them, it would make the approach much easier. Work for sappers or a small team. Of course they'll have something behind the curtain walls too, maybe only a reserve but it could be the main force. Depending on what's left once we have the place invested, it might be wise to make surgical strikes inside rather than try to force the gates. Drezen was built to withstand armies, not heroes."
"Good. We have a best path planned. How about supplies? How many days to Drezen? How many days of Supply can we carry? How do we resupply? Are there stories of sneaky ways into the city? How's the postern gate? What demons can a company (20) of crusaders easily kill, and what would be too tough? So, we can gage where to intervene." Steave continues to ask questions.
"Good. We have a best path planned. How about supplies? How many days to Drezen? How many days of Supply can we carry? How do we resupply? Are there stories of sneaky ways into the city? How's the postern gate? What demons can a company (20) of crusaders easily kill, and what would be too tough? So, we can gage where to intervene." Steave continues to ask questions.
"About four and a half, if nothing slow us down," Nurah said. "Of course once we're there it's anyone's guess how long all that seigecraft takes. We'll have to carry our own food and water for the lot of it. Nothing in the Worldwound a sane person wants to eat, that's for sure."
"It's always wiser to have more supplies than we need," Sosiel said. "But not so many as to burden our advance. I believe we can safely carry ten days' provisions. Also, with our tactics I believe a score of crusaders may take a babau, but probably nothing much stronger."
"The dwarves didn't have the chance to fit out Drezen as they liked," Aron said. "Someone might be able to scale the walls and go in over the battlements, through where the catapults and ballistae are, or fly down and land on the celestial beacon on the tower, but there's no traditional postern. It's possible something's fallen into ruin, of course."
"Ten days? There and back is 9 days leaving one extra day. We have to either assume quick success and supplies at Drezen or divine intervention. Otherwise, we'll be eating the horses. What else can we do for provisions?" Steave continues to query.
"I think that the idea is we take the fortress, and the extra food is for us to eat while we wait to be re-supplied." Blink didn't add that if they failed, they probably wouldn't be in a state to worry about food on the march home. If they returned, it would likely be as undead abominations or daemonically possessed corpses.
Agreed. It seems the best course of action would be to take the fortress and hold it. We're... an.. he gulps, advance party. Yridhrennor quails in his robe, pulling his books close to his chest.
Hoo! Elf! You wanted it, didn't you!? This is what you wanted! To be a great hero like in your stories! Well, now you got it! And, look at you, wetting yourself at even the slightest mention of danger! HAHAHAH! Falfaeren laughs and rolls on the ground, clutching his sides with his wings. And, in such of such strong, proud, brave warriors, too! Hah! Good luck with any of them, you coward!
Yridhrennor blushes, stammering in shame behind his books, then he stops, and brightens! Yes! Just like in the books! This gambit has worked before! We pushed back the Worldwound a few times in the past, and during the wars against the Whispering Tyrant, the wall was redrawn several times on both sides of the Kestrel! This can work! It has in the past! And, with the proud, brave, and mighty King of the Ravens at our side to act as a talented scout, with sharp, keen eyes. We have an even better chance!
The raven stops laughing and stares at the elf in horror. You... who.. you cannot mean to actually go through with this!? The elf nods. Who are you and what did you do with my librarian?! What happened to my librarian!
The elf sits back, a small smile on his lips. This will work.
"Ten days? There and back is 9 days leaving one extra day. We have to either assume quick success and supplies at Drezen or divine intervention. Otherwise, we'll be eating the horses. What else can we do for provisions?" Steave continues to query.
"There was fighting all down the border. We may find abandoned supply dumps as we go," Sosiel said.
"Divine intervention? That might actually not be a bad idea, do we have anyone who can create water? If so we could bring less water and more food and extend the length of our supplies. Old trick when we were ranging for long raids. If we have the mounts we could also extend our supplies the hard way, don't suggest it but it is an option. On a related note we should see to pairing those without mounts with experienced riders." Ljos cast his golden eyes upon Yridhrennor, [b]"If you are done with your research we should prepare to move at dawn, speed and surprise will be our best assets in retaking Drezen. We lack the numbers for methodical warfare. And, we need to get some eyes on the scene in any case, to much may have occured under the Abyss's gentle ministrations."
Arodus 27, Vala's Gift.
Provisions: 9/10
The crusaders' army marches the next day, heading north from the ruins of Kenabres and through lands that once fed the city. Now they find only burned fields and the slain. The town of Vala's gift stood near the far end of the lost farms, its keep toppled and its granaries broken. They arrived just as the night fell, the pass rising up into the Worldwound easily visible from the ruins.
** spoiler omitted **
Steave works with the sergeants to set camp and watches. He circulates with the troops learning their names and getting them ready for a night in the Worldwound beyond a wall.
** spoiler omitted **
Evening, Arodus 27, Vala's Gift
Over the course of the day Ljos road along the column, placing himself to respond to potential ambushes and reviewing the troops. He kept one eye on Othirubo during this time, both to make sure he behaved himself and that he was not harassed by others. Once reaching camp Ljos allowed Othirubo to rest while he went and took a look at the wrecked town of Vala's Gift. Looking at the path ahead he began to calculate, old habits playing upon his mind.
A dozen trained raiders and I could cripple this column by laying ambush in that pass. If I hit them while camping here, it would take maybe fifty to ensure they were useless in a siege later...
Riding back Ljos went to meet with the captains, particularly Nurah and Sosiel, to voice his concerns.
Ljos found Sosiel and Aron busy erecting their tent, but they set it aside on seeing a captain approach.
"Captain Ljos," Sosiel said pleasantly. His armor was spotless despite the ride. "Can we be of service?"
Ljos dismounted and strode up to the two lieutenants, "Have you looked at the terrain ahead? Think like a bandit and really look at the land we're in. Imagine, the merchant caravans that went missing have started to become too big of a problem for the local baron and now he's sent men after you. He sent knights of course, heavily armed and armored with sturdy mounts but with limited mobility when not on flat, open ground. You don't have the numbers or the men to deal with them head on, but they have to come to you. They pass through a ruined town, much like this, and then a choke point, much like that." He pointed to the trail ahead, "How would you hit them?"
He paused, "We need to not be here right now or we need to prepare for attack. If it was me, and I've done this before, I'd hit two times tonight and once tomorrow. First, right as the first watch starts to get tired and hungry, while their comrades are sitting down for supper and time in the sack. Second, right around midnight when half the camp is asleep or trying to get there but having trouble calming from the first attack. Third, I'd hit 'em in the morning when they tried for the pass. The first two shots would be limited, raiders with longbows just to force the enemy to stay awake and wear their nerves, use the ruins for cover and to shield my withdrawal. The third would be full force. Mages with big blasting spells, archers, and people rolling big rocks. All of them hitting the front and rear of the column to bottle the enemy up. Then, right as the enemy got ready to attack back, I'd fade. If they didn't fight back, if I did better than expected, I'd hit the center next... and I'd gut them. Repeat as necessary. I'd need a dozen men, two dozen at most." Ljos looked at the soldiers meaningfully. "We need to get ahead of the enemy before they get ahead of us. Thoughts?"
Yridhrennor stays in the middle of the column, looking vastly out of his element.
Blink didn't exactly look like she belonged in the column of Crusaders either, even if she was a dedicated of Sarenrae. Still, she was there, and she would do what she could to help. Hopefully it involved teleporting. She was surprisingly good at it now, and it would make for an interesting approach to most fights.
Glancing over at Yridhrennor, she tugged at her loose clothing and significantly less armour than most of the people around them were wearing. "Do you ever feel underdressed?" she quipped with a smile.
Sosiel looked about. "Anywhere we would camp is much the same here. Nurah was very sure of it. And our enemy is not persistent, but not methodical."
"It's true," Aron said. "I took a look myself when we came in."
Blink didn't exactly look like she belonged in the column of Crusaders either, even if she was a dedicated of Sarenrae. Still, she was there, and she would do what she could to help. Hopefully it involved teleporting. She was surprisingly good at it now, and it would make for an interesting approach to most fights.
Glancing over at Yridhrennor, she tugged at her loose clothing and significantly less armour than most of the people around them were wearing. "Do you ever feel underdressed?" she quipped with a smile.
The elf blushes and pulls up his book before Falfaerel resolutely sits on the tome, pushing it down. Alll.. alll the time. I.. um.. that is.. Loo-look at them! They're Crusaders! Yridhrennor gestures towards Staeve and the others. They'r the stuff of legends and myths! Everyone writes songs and ballads and poems about the Crusades and the brave knights who fight in their endless conflicts. Who wouldn't feel awed by that? And, a little.. small.
Falfaerel takes wing to scout for a camping sight and agrees with Sosiel that the place they selected is indeed the best. The raven's voice is tinged with grudging respect for the grounder.
"It is a stirring sight," Blink replied with a smile, "But remember - your spells are no less worthy that the swords, axes, lances...is that a spiked chain that one guy is carrying? You, and to a lesser degree myself and some of the others, call on the forces of creation to alter the very reality of the world itself. When they tell those stories, your name will be mentioned too."
Oh.. Oh my Ummmm yes.. Um... I don't think.. That is. I d-D-don't think I've done ally gt much.. Just a bit of snoopy and trickier here and there. Nothing... Brace..
Arodus 28, Near Vilareth Ford.
Provisions: 8.5/10
Despite Ljos' misgivings, the night passed without great incident. The army broke camp in the morning and pressed on toward Vilareth Ford. The last word they had, before departing Kenabres, put the ford still in control of a modest garrison. The destruction of the wardstones spared them a grisly fate.
About an hour before noon, as the crusaders drew to within a few miles of the ford, Anevia and Aron came racing back from scouting ahead. They made straight for the captains.
"Enemies have taken the ford," Aron said. "There's a huge force!"
"A hundred fifty, maybe two hundred," Anevia said. "Looked like mostly tieflings, but they're not in good order." She knelt down to sketch out the situation. "They're on our side of the ford, one camp but spread out. Here and here," she made two marks on the ground. "Two large pavilions with tents clustered around them and a small space between."
"That probably means commanders who don't get on, but aren't strong enough to dominate one another," Sosiel said. "Each impresses enough of the ranks to command obedience, but not enough. Doubtless they plan one another's murder nightly. Their lieutenants would do the same for them; their natures demand it."
Could we play that to our advantage? Get them to turn against each other, so we only have mop of the survivors? It's what Orthares used in his Accounts of the Campaigns in the East. Yridhrennor pipes up from behind a book.
Ljos's concern remains, "Hmm, perhaps I am to used to fighting more organized foes. Prior to coming to Kenabres, my experience was with Taldan knights, devils and the Chelish army."
The golden-eyed warrior is alert for much of the night, only bedding down after his predicted attack time of midnight. He sets up a watch rotation with Othirubo and in the morning continues the Tiefling's lessons on the Order. This time, Ljos educates him on the basic tenets of the Order: No matter how far one has fallen, forgiveness is possible. Self sacrifice is the highest honor in the order, but not done foolishly, if one is to die then you should save a soul doing it. And, most importantly, no one who has not sinned greatly is allowed within the Order. Those who wish to join the good fight but have never known the path of evil are encouraged to join the Order's sister organizations.
Arodus 28, near Vilareth Ford
Ljos rubbed his jaw, nodding along to Yridhrennor"Could work, way I would do it would come after nightfall though and time is a factor." Black fingernails resembling claws drummed on his scabbard. "Could always assassinate the commanders, then send up a flare and let the cavalry charge in." Ljos waves over Othirubo, "You know anything about this force? Who commands?"
Ljos rubbed his jaw, nodding along to Yridhrennor"Could work, way I would do it would come after nightfall though and time is a factor." Black fingernails resembling claws drummed on his scabbard. "Could always assassinate the commanders, then send up a flare and let the cavalry charge in." Ljos waves over Othirubo, "You know anything about this force? Who commands?"
Othirubo, who did not embrace his studies but did pay attention, shrugged, "Beats me. Last I heard it might be Exorius, or his goat Umestil. But there's supposed to be some independent operators here too, that didn't answer to Drezen. Could be Nulkineth. He's supposed to be some kind of demon ghoul. This line, though? Everyone says they're a demon something."
"Whoever it is sounds like a poor commander," Blink murmured, "Or two. A suggestion? We make an assassination 'attempt' on one commander. When it fails, he will almost certainly...press the issue with the other. It sounds like they're about ready to kill each other anyway. We might as well push it over the edge and save as many of our own troops as possible."