"Perhaps their magic is limited? Or, perhaps, they wish to create a two-pronged assault? If I were in charge of a legion of able-bodied and well-organized minions, baiting anyone who can actually dispose of them into a disadvantageous position would be my first order of business," Gaius theorizes. "Even the best soldiers would be hard-pressed physically and practically to fight a battle on two fronts, not to mention the emotional stressors of knowing the enemy is in the same place as your home and loved ones."
"Gaius has the right of it. If I had such a trick, I'd bait my foe into assuming it would be a traditional battle, and focus their attention on the enemy without--then catch them in a pincer once the tower force deployed."
Esperanza nods in understanding. "We still need to warn Longshadow, but then we should go about removing the false front, piece by piece."
Undari hefts the payroll chest, which proves to be a struggle until his form again begins to grow and sprout long feathers. Once he reaches his full, giant avian size again, the rest of the party and Nibbitz climb aboard his back. He takes wing, circles around to snatch up Mahrzan's cage in his talons, then climbs into the sky.
It is approximately 40 miles from the ridgeline camp to Longshadow, as the druid flies. Known as the Jewel on the Marideth, it is a large town of approximately 4,000 inhabitants. Whilst this would not even measure as a city in other nations, it is still one of the largest settlements in Nirmathas - and its biggest center of industry.
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The sun is high in the sky when the stone ramparts of Longshadow come into view, contrasted against the blue of the Marideth at the town's back. Smoke curls skyward from innumerable chimneys and stacks atop the wooden buildings that crowd the winding streets.
Once you draw closer, though, you can see that Longshadow's defenses are woefully inadequate. The once formidible walls are weathered and crumbling. Scant numbers of guards stand atop the towers, patrol the parapets, or watch the gates.
Clearly, Longshadow will need some work to prepare for the coming siege.
"The situation is grim," Esperanza says after hopping down from Undari's back. "We'll need to buy them as much time as we can to shore up their defenses."
"It doesn't feel fair to say, but it feels disheartening," Gaius admits. "All we've already done to give Longshadow their best shot, yet we arrive and, at least on first impressions, it seems like they aren't pulling their own wait! Not that it changes my intentions," he clarifies.
"Time, information, and specialized help is all we can give them I think. Hopefully they are resistant to the news..."
Back on solid ground, the party marches along the winding road leading towards the walled industrial town. Up close, the defenses look even more woefully ill-prepared. The walls and towers still show unrepaired damage from a past assault by monsters, though it may have been decades ago.
You approach the town's eastern gate, and the gate warden eyes you warily, but he makes only a cursory effort at ascertaining your business before waving you inside.
Before you lays a town of tall wooden buildings. You are suddenly dismayed by how effective a fiery assault by the Ironfangs would be. One of the few stone buildings you see sits right beside the gate you pass through. Looking to be the most secure building in town, you suspect this to be the armory. Anchored by a pair of towers, the stronghold is actually staffed by a full complement of guards.
When the land that became Nirmathas declared independence from Molthune, Longshadow was one of the first towns to secede. Many attribute this readiness to rebel to lingering resentment over how Molthune's capital of Canorate had long poached both artisans and adventurers from Longshadow, causing the town's decline. Longshadow immediately dedicated itself to producing arms for the guerrilla forces of the newly founded Nirmathas. This "patriotic spirit" remains a point of pride that Longshadow maintains over its industrial rival, Skelt.
The town's walls were originally designed to repel attacks by monsters originating in the Hollow Hills. Traditionally, when Molthune attempted to capture the town - doing so four times since the founding of Nirmathas - the mayor would simply open the gates and allow the invaders inside. Then, over the following weeks and months, the occupying Molthuni would be worn down by guerrilla tactics and attrition, inevitably forcing them to abandon the town.
The last conflict with Molthune came about 30 years ago, and it marked a notable departure from traditional Nirmathi tactics. Known as the Six-Day Siege, it was the first time that Longshadow's walls repelled human invaders instead of monstrous creatures.
The mayor's most trusted advisors are Garret Graygallow, owner of a local foundry; shipping magnate Seneka Volstadt; and Banker Soloman Zane, an Abadaran priest.
Other prominent locals include Gestelle Ambrose, owner of an inn and tavern called The Canary, and Meriam Kems, a regional scout, leader of the Hunter Bureau, and self-proclaimed Longshadow ambassador.
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As he hops off of Ulyi's back Thorek gives Longshadow a despairing scowl. "Nirmathas has been at war for a human's lifetime and they still let it get like this! If any dwarf let their home fall into this sort of disrepair they'd be censured to Hell and back!" He points at the nearest resident and barks, "You there! Who's in charge of Longshadow? The Ironfangs are closing the noose and this place is in gods-damned shambles!"
Undari remains quiet and watchful after transforming back to human form. He leads the chained Ironfang hobgoblin carefully along, wary for any false moves.
Gaius is about to hand a dossier to Thorek when he accosts gathers information from one of the locals. He cringes a bit as he knows what the poor citizen must be feeling.
Once they've had a chance to say their piece, he hands his information over to the Dwarf. "Sorry for being so slow..." he mutters.
________
As the dwarf begins to hassle nearby residents of Longshadow, Esperanza's voice cuts through the air, her tone commanding. "Thorek."
Lily just facepalms at Thorek and whispers to the local," Sorry... He's as tactful as a sledgehammer. Don't mind him though he means we'll."
The porter that Thorek accosts looks around nervously for a moment before hastening his steps to escape the strange situation, sparing neither words nor a second glance at the loud dwarf.
Even if he is not of a mind to pay terribly close attention to Gaius' explication, Thorek does pick out one key bit of information: Mayor Thom Crawbert is probably the man to see about whipping the town's defenses into shape.
"Such colorful company you've collected since our last parting."
The words, familiar to Esperanza, pierce through the crowd. She turns to find none other than Eurydicia, knight-errant of Shelyn, approaching with a smile.
With an exasperated sigh Thorek grabs the dossier out of Gaius' hands and starts flipping through it, not noticing when Eurydicia joins them.
Esperanza freezes in place, any thoughts of the coming siege blown completely away by a surge of emotions. Vision blurring, she turns toward the voice and takes a few halting steps, distractedly holding her glaive out for someone to take it from her.
The next thing she knows, Esperanza is gripping Eurydicia tightly in both arms, with no memory of actually closing the distance between them. "You're okay," she whispers, over and over, and even she's not sure if she's talking to the knight or to herself.
Gaius stands around and tries to look anywhere but at the hugging knights. A few moments in, he just turns around. "How long do these sorts of things last?"
"Perhaps we'd best get off the street before we both lose what little calm we have left," Eurydicia says, her cracking voice betraying that the relief is mutual.
The Shelynite knight guides you to the Canary, an inn and tavern that sits near the town gate in the shadow of the town armory. Eurydicia is welcomed by the owner, a one-eyed woman who quickly provides a spot for you to speak with Esperanza's mentor.
"In dark moments, I feared the worst, but I've held out hope that you would survive," Eurydicia says to Esperanza. "I've never before been so happy to have my faith rewarded.
"When the caravan was attacked...when we got separated, I traveled westward. I soon found myself among the survivors of other hobgoblin attacks on isolated settlements and homesteads in the hills. When I managed to guide them to Longshadow's walls, I thought it was a blessing. Now...I'm not so sure."
Eurydicia explains that, when she first arrived in Longshadow, she attempted to warn Mayor Crawbert about the looming threat posed by the hobgoblins marauding across the region. However, he politely declined her assistance, claiming that the town was more than capable of defending against "a few uppity goblins."
"His three advisors, in particular, insisted that taking any sort of action was not only unnecessary, but that it would make people panic, and that a 'show of fear' amid 'baseless rumors' would destroy the local economy. I've been doing what I can - organizing drills and fallback plans among the locals - but without support from the local authorities, there's only so much that can be done."
She sighs, then offers a wan smile.
"You always had an artistic talent with words - far better than I. Perhaps you would have more luck persuading the mayor about the danger."
Undari watches the Ironfang prisoner like a hawk while the knights reunite. Once Eurydicia speaks, he says, ”I would be rid of this prisoner as soon as I may, but between our experiences with the Ironfangs and his confidence in their eventual victory, we may finally persuade this mayor how the lives of all the citizens in Longshadow balance on a razor’s edge.”
Hand firmly gripping the hobgoblin’s chain, Undari says, ”Let us go speak with him at once. If this city is to defend itself against the might or the Ironfangs, we must prepare at once!”
Esperanza coughs once to clear her voice before speaking. "I agree. Longshadow did not have any time to lose before we arrived; now it has less. Maybe firsthand accounts from Redburrow can convince the mayor of the damage to Longshadow's economy that will be wrought by its being razed to the ground, its people murdered or worse."
Thorek is agog at this news of Longshadow's leaders' sanguine attitude. "They don't--they think--a few uppity--?!" The warpriest's face turns red as he splutters. "Do the gods-damned fools not know that every town 'twixt here and Phaendar has come under attack?! Have they not heard the tales from merchants and refugees in the past several weeks?! Gods save us all from these idiot Nirmathis!"
Gaius nurses a drink. I do NOT want to be the Mayor right now! He doesn't even know what's sort of Hell is coming for him, and that's before we factor in the Hobgoblins!
"You run the risk of subjecting yourselves to a pub crawl, then," Eurydicia quips. "Mayor Crawbert is just as likely to meet with constituents at a pub across from the Hunter Bureau as he is at the town hall. Of course, given the time of day, I'd say the pub would be the more likely place to find him."
She pauses for a moment, tracing spiral patterns on the tabletop with her finger, before adding a warning.
"Watch out for the mayor's advisors. I don't trust them. They're very shortsighted, and that puts lives at risk."
"A fool and a sot, and the one reinforces the other, no doubt," Thorek mutters darkly, but turns to Eurydicia and offers a small bow. "Thorek Ironspark of Kraggodan, at your service. Your, um, friend Esperanza has been a find companion these past few weeks, as we've been skirmishing with Ironfang units out in the Chernasado Woods. That theater has been mostly resolved--at least for now--and so we've come here. Your advice and assistance would be welcome, if we're to save this town from the Ironfang Legion and itself. Will you accompany us?"
"Heavens know Longshadow needs all the help it can get..." Gaius mumbles, calling the dilapidated walls to mind. "You've clearly been here longer than us, is there anything in the town that could be attended to?"
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"Considering how I've spent some weeks trying to whip the locals into shape, I should ask whether you will accompany me," Eurydicia jokes with a wan smile.
Nevertheless, she readily agrees to help you, starting by leading you to the pub where the mayor can be found. Along the way, she describes the places she's identified in need of work.
"The city walls are the obvious place to start. They're made of sturdy brick, but their in poor repair in several places and can be climbed or breached rather easily.
"The city's internal defenses need work, too. Fallback locations, choke points, barricades, medical stations - I've been trying to get these things organized, but without official support, little progress has been made.
"The town's militia numbers about 50 strong. If we had the mayor's support, we could probably muster another 300 or so. Of course, they would need some drilling to be effective. On a similar note, we could try to train the townsfolk to fight. They may not be soldiers, but they're strong and eager.
"Lastly, if the town is facing a siege, supplies will be needed. The crops outside the walls can be harvested early, and we could encourage the hunters and trappers to redouble their efforts to fill the town's larders in advance of the attack."
Longshadow begins with 50 Defense Points, but this can be increased by addressing some of the areas that Eurydicia mentions.
Each day, you can perform up to three actions to ready the town. Each one represents about 5 hours of work and requires a DC 15 skill check, based upon the task. Attempting these checks without the support of the mayor imposes a -5 penalty.
City Walls - Craft (Stonemasonry), Knowledge (Engineering), Profession (Stonemason). Each successful check adds 10 Defense Points; this benefit can be gained up to 3 times (30 Defense Points max).
Internal Defenses - Craft (Alchemy, Carpentry, Stonemasonry, or Traps), Diplomacy, or Knowledge (Local). Each successful check adds 5 Defense Points; this benefit can be gained up to 3 times (15 Defense Points max).
Militia Drills - Intimidate or Profession (Soldier). Each successful check adds 10 Defense Points; this can gained once with the main militia and up to twice with the reserve volunteers (30 Defense Points max).
Siege Supplies - Profession (Baker, Cook, Farmer, or Trapper) or Survival. Each successful check adds 5 Defense Points; this benefit can be gained twice (10 Defense Points max).
Townsfolk Readiness - Diplomacy, Heal, or Profession (Soldier). Each successful check adds 5 Defense Points; this benefit can be gained twice (10 Defense Points max).
Additionally, you can call upon Reinforcements in the form of freed slaves, allied Chernasardo Rangers, or followers from the Leadership feat. Training freed slaves requires a Peform (Oratory) or Profession (Soldier) check. Rangers and followers do not require a check; however, the Rangers will require 2d4 days to arrive.
Each unit of reinforcements adds 5 Defense Points. You can only gain the benefit from the Rangers or Leadership followers once each, but you can gain the benefit from freed slaves once for each group you liberate. The prisoners at the Ridgeline Camp were one possible group, but there are others that can be freed at other nearby Ironfang camps.
Esperanza's jaw sets with determination in the face of the challenge before them. "Very well then. We shall get the hard part out of the way first by convincing the mayor to let us save his life, and then reward ourselves by drilling the militia. Seems simple enough."
”Yes,” agrees Undari, having kept his focus on guarding the prisoner, ”And let us deliver this Ironfang to his proper judgement at the hands of the town legal system—perhaps his tale will shake some sense into the mayor as well.”
"Sigh..... Even when trying to save people we have to deal with jerks. Nothing has been smooth. Nothing at all. Why is it so hard for the mayor to let us save everyone's life"
"I have full faith and confidence in our ability to make him see reason. But...just in case, if the mayor needed to be arrested or replaced what is the mechanism for doing so?"
"Oh my, um..." Eurydicia stammers as she considers a reply to Thorek. "I haven't the faintest idea. The Nirmathi...they are very light on rules and laws. I doubt they have a procedure for such a turn of events. Let's hope it doesn't come to that."
The knight-errant holds the door open for you so you can enter the pub, passing beneath the sign emblazoned with the name The Arm and Hammer.
Finding Mayor Crawbert proves to be a cinch, as his table is thronged by a crowd of people that makes the otherwise open taproom seem cramped and crowded. Of course, rather than discussing affairs of the town, the mayor appears to be regaling his audience with stories.
"...so I was just left standing there at the edge of the cliff, dumbfounded, trying to figure out how to explain to Navah that her horse, with its saddlebags full of her potions and magical doodads, had just flown the Hells away!"
The end of the tale elicits a peal of laughter, although you get the sense that at least a few listeners are humoring him, having heard the story several times before.
Dragging the hobgoblin forward and shoving him towards the mayor, Undari says, "Mayor Crawbert, meet Mahrzan of the Ironfang Legion, servant of Kosseruk the minotaur leader of their War Mace northern army, pledged to raze Longshadow twelve days hence."
Undari looks to Thorek, saying, "Do you think there is hope yet for this town, that they may build their defenses and prepare to defend themselves?"
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Thorek considers Undari's question gravely. "As it stands today? Not a prayer. The walls are a mess, the fields remain unharvested, no barricades or strongpoints have been built inside the towns, and few if any supplies appear to have been laid away. If the Ironfangs were to arrive tomorrow, this city would fold like a cheap suit." The dwarfs turns a flat stare to the man regaling the crowd.
"Speaking of cheap suits, you are Mayor Crawbert are you not? I am Thorek Ironspark of Kraggodan, at your service. These are my companions--we lead a small group called the Hemlock Harriers and have been aiding the Chernasado Rangers in fighting off an Ironfang incursion in their turf. We come now to aid Longshadow against those same foes."
No wonder Longshadow is in shambles, the Mayor is perpetually boozing! We've certainly got our work cut out for us now... Let's hope we've the same talent for patching things up as we do for disassembling Hobgoblins.
Gaius twiddles his thumbs as the others get to the talking bit with the Mayor. So many ideas for how to improve this town, if it makes it through the siege. Infrastructure is crumbling, so roads, causeways, and bridges will need fixing. Think of the jobs that'd make! And the gold it'd bring in! Hmm...
"Thorek speaks the truth," Esperanza cuts in, planting her hands on the table. "An army marches on your city as we speak. We've raided their camps and freed what captives we found, but they are coming regardless. The Ironfang are not some demoralized regiment of homesick conscripts; they will attack with single-minded purpose to kill or enslave all who live here." She pushes back off, returning to her full height.
"They expect Longshadow to be an easy victory, and so far I have seen and heard little to dispute that. By Shelyn's grace, my comrades and I aim to prove them wrong, but that depends on what you will do to protect the citizens under your leadership."
"Balderdash!" exclaims a middle-aged man seated beside the mayor, dressed in the robes of a priest. "The Ironfang Legion hasn't been seen in Nirmathas since the Ramgate Massacre. If they're even still around anymore, they're off in Molthune on their masters' leash."
"Banker Zane speaks the truth," adds the half-elven woman at the mayor's left hand. She is well-dressed, with the look of a merchant. "My barges have been up and down the Marideth, and we've seen not a single sign of danger."
"We've been battling them for months now... I'm not sure how you ended up missing them but they are certainly a threat. You don't know how lucky you are that we are here to help you. ," she says kind of frustrated.
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Thorek turns to squarely face the two naysayers as though facing down a raging beast. "Have you passed by Phaendar recently? I hear the hobgoblins have rebuilt the bridge after we blew it up, and their slave camp grows there by the day. Or perhaps to Redburrow? The town is a mass grave now--a double handful of survivors fleeing to Chernasado territory. Even those doughty rangers lost their forts and many of their troops to Ironfang irregulars--the forts of Ristin, Trevalay, and Nunder were retaken only after bloody struggle."
His eyes narrow as he regards them both with undisguised hostility. "I would know your names, and your reasons for speaking such obvious lies. They had best be good ones." His tone and posture clearly convey that he does not believe this to be the case. The threat of immanent violence hangs in the air like an executioner's blade.
"I have seen the ravaged towns and forts of which Thorek speaks with my own eyes, fought beside these here against the Ironfangs, and even bring one of their number before you as prisoner, and still you listen to these lying snakes? You are like the overfed and slumbering bear, surrounded by ravenous wolves but too lazy to rise to his feet and even try to fend of his attackers, content to lie back and be eaten alive like a senile chicken," scowls Undari.
Esperanza stares at the two fools while her companion upbraid them, then turns back to the mayor. "These two are liars, meaning to feed complacency, or they are a deadly mix of stupidity and ignorance. We have no reason to lie to you. Our goal is only to protect the people of this city from those who would kill or enslave them."
The advisors begin by diverting attention away from your account.
"We have another adversary to focus on - one that is far more real," insists Garret Graygallow, owner of the largest of the local foundries. "We cannot forget the threat posed by Skelt. If we let them overshadow our production and shipping capabilities, they will steal our markets away and bleed away our livelihoods.
"Instead of pouring money into a hole, fighting an imagined foe, we need to invest in new cargo cranes down at the docks."
One of the other advisors, the shipping magnate Seneka Volstadt, seconds this motion.
Seeing his warning go unheeded, Undari settles back and watches the behavior of the mayor and his advisors, hoping this town is not doomed based on the idiocy of its leaders.
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Undari's analogy, whilst discounted by the advisors, seems to have gained traction with at least a portion of the crowd - especially those who make a living from the land surrounding the town, as opposed to those who tend the forges or ply the docks.
Assessing the advisors, Undari can best guess that they are motivated by greed. They want as much money invested in their businesses (or in the case of Banker Zane, his temple) as possible, and they see defense spending as a threat to their enterprise.
However, the druid also notices that Graygallow's attempt to distract with a red herring has not earned favor with the mayor. In particular, Mayor Crawbert seems irked by the foundry owner's attempt to mock the party with his reference to "real threats."
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"A very fine investment," Esperanza says, her voice dripping with acid. "I'm sure the Ironfang Legion will make great use of your new cranes once they capture the city. Perhaps they will reward you with a swift execution instead of damning you to a life of slavery."
"Besides its not exactly like we haven't heard of Skelt being destroyed too...," Lily says never hearing of the town before today.
Lily earns further nods of approval from the crowd as her riff on Skelt appeals to the residents of Longshadow, regardless of occupation. She also adds a further edge to Esperanza's rebuttal, which utterly eviscerates the advisors' attempt to distract from the party's warning.
"Come now. Who knows Longshadow and its environs better?" Seneka Volstadt implores. "Lifelong residents, who know well its needs and have spent years building it up? Or a gaggle of vagrants who've just wandered in from the wilds?"
This appeal to ethos, credibility, goes over better than their efforts to deflect the argument altogether.
"I've been traveling this forest since I was a little child. I may not have any particular attachment to a specific town but I ensure you I want to protect everyone here."